Scripture: Leviticus 18:1-4, 25, 26b; 19:29; Joshua 2:1-4, 8-11, 14-18, 21-24; 6:1-5, 20, 22-25; 1 Corinthians 1:27b-29; Psalm 34:1-5a, 6-8

Leviticus 18:1 The LORD spoke to Moses: 2 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: I am the LORD your God. 3 Do not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, or follow the practices of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. You must not follow their customs. 4 You are to practice My ordinances and you are to keep My statutes by following them; I am the LORD your God… 25 The land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants. 26b …You must not commit any of these detestable things-- … 19:29 "Do not debase your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be prostituted and filled with depravity.

Joshua 2:1 Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies from the Acacia Grove, saying, "Go and scout the land, especially Jericho." So they left, and they came to the house of a woman, a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there. 2 The king of Jericho was told, "Look, some of the Israelite men have come here tonight to investigate the land." 3 Then the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab and said, "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they came to investigate the entire land." 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them… 8 Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD (YAHWEH) dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan. 11 When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD (YAHWEH) your God is God in heaven above and on earth below… 14 The men answered her, "We will give our lives for yours. If you don't report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the LORD gives us the land." 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, since she lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city. 16 "Go to the hill country so that the men pursuing you won't find you," she said to them. "Hide yourselves there for three days until they return; afterward, go on your way." 17 The men said to her, "We will be free from this oath you made us swear, 18 unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father's family into your house… 21 "Let it be as you say," she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window. 22 So the two men went into the hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers had returned. They searched all along the way, but did not find them. 23 Then the men returned, came down from the hill country, and crossed the Jordan. They went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had happened to them. 24 They told Joshua, "The LORD has handed over the entire land to us. Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking because of us."

Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho was strongly fortified because of the Israelites-- no one leaving or entering. 2 The LORD said to Joshua, "Look, I have handed Jericho, its king, and its fighting men over to you. 3 March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry seven ram's-horn trumpets in front of the ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the trumpets. 5 When there is a prolonged blast of the horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the city wall will collapse, and the people will advance, each man straight ahead."… 20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets sounded. When they heard the blast of the trumpet, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. The people advanced into the city, each man straight ahead, and they captured the city… 22 Joshua said to the two men who had scouted the land, "Go to the prostitute's house and bring the woman out of there, and all who are with her, just as you promised her." 23 So the young men who had scouted went in and brought out Rahab and her father, mother, brothers, and all who belonged to her. They brought out her whole family and settled them outside the camp of Israel. 24 They burned up the city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the LORD's house. 25 However, Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, her father's household, and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent to spy on Jericho, and she lives in Israel to this day.

1 Corinthians 1:27b … God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world-- what is viewed as nothing-- to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one can boast in His presence.

Psalm 34:1 I will praise the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. 2 I will boast in the LORD; the humble will hear and be glad. 3 Proclaim Yahweh's greatness with me; let us exalt His name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 5a Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; … 6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him from all his troubles. 7 The Angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. 8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!