Ok . . . so VeggieTales has pretty much ruined this portion of Scripture for me 🙂   The replay in my mind’s eye is pretty clear . . . Larry the Cucumber is portraying Joshua . . . and Larry beholds a Man opposite him who stands in glorious light with His sword drawn . . . and Larry confronts the Man, “Are you for us or for our enemies” . . . and the Man identifies Himself as the Commander of the army of the Lord . . . and Larry, as Joshua did, falls on his face to the ground and worships . . . and then the Man leaves . . . and Larry, being a cucumber . . . with no arms . . . can’t get up off his face . . .and calls for help. Kind of funny . . . a bit distracting . . . the mind and what it recalls and when is a weird thing . . .

Anyways . . . getting beyond armless, worshiping cucumbers . . . I am pausing over this passage at the end of Joshua 5 and considering the nature of holy ground. Holy ground is the place where the Lord is. Here it’s by the great-walled city of Jericho on the eve before Israel’s first foray into the promised land. Here it is an encounter with the pre-incarnate Christ as He identifies Himself as the Commander of the army of the Lord. Holy ground is the place where the Lord is and the place where the Lord reveals Himself. For Joshua, the revelation was such that he knew beyond any doubt that he and the army of Israel were not going into battle alone . . . that they would enter the fight along with a heavenly host led by heaven’s Commander-in-Chief . . . that the Lord Himself would have their back. Holy ground is the place where the Lord is and the place where the Lord reveals Himself and the place where the only appropriate response is worship . . . the shoes come off . . . the face goes down . . . worship. And it’s with that in mind that I reflect on my other readings this morning.

In Psalm 73 the psalmist is absolutely beat up . . . on the ropes . . . struggling to figure out life’s injustices . . . to the point of almost crashing and burning (73:2-3). Trying to figure it all out was “too painful” . . . until He goes into the sanctuary of the God (73:16-17). It was when he stepped onto holy ground . . . entered the place where God had placed His name . . . that he gained clarity of thought. Holy ground is the place were things are put into perspective . . . “Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory” (73:23-24). What Joshua learned on holy ground, so did the psalmist . . . God, You hold my hand . . . You will guide me . . . You will receive me into glory. And holy ground is the place where, by gaining perspective, passion is ignited . . . “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You” (73:25). Just put your big toe on holy ground and you want to know it and explore it further . . . experiencing just an inkling of the presence of God ignites a thirst and desire for more . . . and mind, soul, and spirit become convinced “it is good for me to draw near to God” (73:28).

Then I’m in Mark’s gospel and the holy ground is the river Jordan. Jesus is baptized by John . . . the heavens part . . . the Spirit descends as a dove upon the Son of God . . . a voice thunders from the very throne of God, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:9-11). Holy ground is the place where the mysteries of heaven break through . . . where glimpses of divine dynamics are caught . . . where the wonders of the Triune God, though not fully understood, are seen and experienced . . . did I mention the shoes coming off and going facedown? . . .

And lastly, in my reading in 1Corinthians 1:18-31, I’m reminded that when we step on to holy ground, there’s no place for glorying in self. I’m welcomed onto holy ground not because of my wisdom . . . nor because of my power . . . but because of the “foolishness” of the cross (1Cor. 1:18). “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty . . . that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1:27-29). Holy ground is available because of the work of Another . . . entering into the Presence is possible because I am “in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1:30).

And as I reflect on the privileged place of holy ground, I’m thinking that, even now, I should be taking of my sandals . . . and going facedown. Thanking Him for access . . . praising Him for presence . . . glorying in the Lord . . . just like a cucumber.