Recently, I began to think about some of the scriptures that I learned as a young man, in particular they are scriptures that pertained to God’s word, for example Psalm 138:2 tells us that God has magnified his word above all his name.

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. ~ Psalm 138:8

Now this is truly staggering when we take the time to reflect on how glorious the name of the Lord is. Psalm 72:19 says, blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen. In Nehemiah we read, Stand up and bless the Lord your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. ~ Nehemiah 9:5

Furthermore, Jesus prayed for his disciples saying, And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. ~ John 17:11

When we consider how glorious the name of the Lord is, such scriptures come to mind as Jesus teaching us to pray, Our Father which art in Heaven, hollowed be thy name. And who can forget the words of Paul when he declares that God has highly exalted Jesus, and given him a name which is above every name ~ Philippians 2:9. 

With all we have recorded in God’s Word regarding the great and glorious name of the Lord, the Psalmist tells us that God has exalted his word above all his name.

Wow!!! This is truly amazing, and brings to mind another text that meant a  lot to me as a young man. It is found in the book of Joshua.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. ~ Joshua 1:8

The book of the Law is a reference to the law of Moses, and it was God’s word for the children of Israel after God brought them out of the land of Egypt.

After the death of Moses, God spoke to Joshua and said, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.  Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. ~ v. 2 -7

God told Joshua that just as he was with Moses, so he would be with him. He then follows that by saying I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage.

These words bring to mind the New Testament words of the writer of Hebrews. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. ~ Hebrews 13:5-6 

When God instructed Joshua to meditate on his law (his Word) day and night it was so that Joshua would walk according to God’s word, “thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein.”

Joshua was being instructed by God to be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only as James in the New Testament teaches us. If we only hear the Word of God and don’t put it into practice, we deceive ourselves.

God’s instructions to Joshua came with the promise of prosperity and good success because of God’s presence would be with him.

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. ~ v .9

This promise is carried over into the New Testament for us, and the source of our courage is knowing that the Lord himself is with us. God is with us, but if we do not keep his word in the forefront and live according to the Word, it’s easy to forget that.

The prosperity and good success that God promised Joshua is not material riches that greed feeds upon. It was the prosperity of his soul. When we meditate on God’s word and live accordingly, we become keenly aware of his presence with us, and the more we are conscious of his presence, the more we enter into a place of rest and trust.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. ~ Psalm 37:25

True prosperity leads to contentment in the Lord, for godliness with contentment is great gain. ~ 1 Timothy 6:6

Now consider the following words of Psalm 1.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. ~ Psalm 1:1-3 

Notice the correlation between God’s promise to Joshua and the opening verses of the book of Psalms. Both promise prosperity in connection to meditation in God’s Word. The Psalmist actually says, “whatsoever he does shall prosper.” What a promise! This aligns the words of Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

When God is involved in what you are doing, you will prosper in what ever you do! This comes by your soul prospering by the Word of God.

Unfortunately, prosperity has been twisted to mean something different in modern times than what it means in scripture. The promise of prosperity that comes through meditating on God’s word is not the promise of material wealth and riches. It is the prosperity of the soul. It is being enriched by God in all things that causes us to grow spiritually and bear fruit in God’s Kingdom. It is being enriched with faith, love, grace, righteousness, and godly virtue.

As we grow in the attributes of holy righteousness and walk uprightly before the Lord we become more and more confident of his presence in our lives. This then spills over into our daily lives and we cease to live in fear of lack or insufficiency because we know and are confident that the Lord is our helper. That my friends is true prosperity, and that comes from abiding in God’s Word. Keep the Word of God in a place of utmost honor in your life for in it is your confidence in the Living God. In it is the prosperity of your soul.

Material prosperity can vanish overnight, but true prosperity is eternal and lasting where thieves and robbers cannot break through and steal. True prosperity is the word producing much fruit in your soul.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. ~ John 15:7-8