The Book of Joshua closes with two [Chapters 23-24] farewell addresses by Joshua. The first, a farewell speech to the leaders, is Joshua’s final testimony to God’s faithfulness. But it is also a grim warning of the dangers of abandoning God (chap. 23). God has been, is, and will be faithful to His promise and drive out the remaining Canaanites—if Israel obeys (23:1–11). But God will also be faithful to His words of warning. If Israel turns to other gods, the Lord will bring on His people all the evil He has threatened (vv. 12–16). Like Deuteronomy 28, Joshua 23 sets forth an Old Testament theology of history, in which all events are linked to Israel’s response to God and His Law.
The final chapter relates a ceremony of covenant renewal, held at Shechem during one of Joshua’s last years. It follows the familiar pattern of Hittite suzerainty treaties, a pattern established in Deuteronomy itself (Deuteronomy). Here is Joshua’s last introduction of God as King (24:2), his final recounting of God’s relationship with Israel (vv. 2–13), his statement of God’s requirements (vv. 14, 16, 18, 21, 23–24), his appeal to witnesses (vv. 22, 27), and his recitation of blessings and curses (vv. 19–20). As the grand old man of Israel calls on his people to choose whom they will serve, we sense our own need for fresh and constant devotion to the Lord.
At last Joshua dies (vv. 28–33). Israel is settled in the land. But the grim vision of the future he shared in his farewell address (23:15–16) will all too soon come to pass.
Key verse. 24:15: Each must choose someone to serve.
It is an interesting paradox...we are free to choose, but we are not free to choose the consequences of our choices, we reap what we sow...it's the law of the harvest. You are free to choose, but you are not free to choose the consequences and you are not free not to choose. If you reject that idea and say I will not choose anything or anyone [like an atheist] then that is your choice. Do you see it? Each of us WILL CHOSE TO SERVE SOMEONE!
Personal application. When we choose complete commitment to the Lord, we shape our family’s future as well as our own.
INSIGHT
Be strong (23:6). Doing what is right in God’s sight rather than following the crowd is one mark of a godly person.
Separation (23:12–13). Joshua calls for complete separation from the Canaanites, knowing that Israel was more likely to be tempted to follow pagan gods than to convert pagans! The process described is “ally yourself,” then “intermarry” and then “associate.” The meaning of “associate” is defined in verse 7: “invoke the names of their gods or swear by them.” Today we’re not to cut ourselves off from unbelievers (cf. 1 Cor. 5:9–11). But we’re to be careful that friendships do not lead to alliance, intermarriage, and “associating.”
In Joshua 24:23, it could not be stated more clearly, “get rid of the foreign gods that are among you and offer your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” We are called to live it out differently than the Israelites, but we are to be just a diligent in guarding our hearts, and in rooting out and destroying idolatry in our own hearts. The human heart is going to worship something or someone! It was created to worship the one true God, our hearts were created to be set apart for HIM and HIM alone, our hearts were created to be holy unto the Lord our God.
1 Cor 7:34--and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
Eph 1:4--just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
Eph 5:27--that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
1 Pet 1:15--but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;
1 Pet 1:16--because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
2 Pet 3:11--Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
“I” (24:3–13). The basis for any relationship with God is found in what He has done for us, not in what we supposedly can do for Him. Note in these verses all that God has done for Israel: “I took Abraham” (v. 3), “I gave him Isaac” (v. 3), “I sent Moses and Aaron” (v. 5), “I afflicted the Egyptians” (v. 5), “I brought you out” (v. 5), “I brought you to the land” (v. 8), “I gave them into your hands” (v. 11), “I sent the hornet ahead of you” (v. 12), “So I gave you a land” (v. 13). For us too relationship with the Lord is founded on what He has done for us, in Christ. If God spoke the message of Joshua to modern Christians, what “I” statements might He make? [What "I" statements has HE made to you?]
The choice (24:14–15). The choice is never between serving God and personal freedom. The choice is always between God and other masters—whether pagan gods, our sinful passions, or wealth, success, and power.Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (156). Wheaton: Victor Books.
I want to take a moment and look at the Widow's gift! Some of you may have expected me to dive into the signs of the end of the age. I am going to lay my cards on the table here, if you will allow me to use the phrase. I tire quickly of those that spend too much time looking into the signs of the end of the age, frankly I give it very little thought! My passion and my desire, I'm not there yet, is to live every day like it is my last day. Not necessarily in what I do, but in my heart attitude toward God. You might call it seeking by faith to live in the light of eternity.
Yes, world events could be coming to a close and Jesus could be coming very soon and HE could come back in 1,000 years. HIS return is immanent, meaning HE could come at any moment and that is how we should live. Live today like you were going to be standing at the judgement seat of Christ at the end of this day. Enough!
Luke 21:1-4 He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins. 3 “I tell you the truth,” He said. “This poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
I was moved by the widow this morning...she gave out of her poverty all she had to live on. As I read those words I thought of David in 2 Samuel 24:24-25, where David wanted to make an offering to God and HE was unwilling to make an offering that cost him nothing. "The king answered Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it from you for a price, for I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost ⌊me⌋ nothing.” David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for 50 ounces of silver. 25 He built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the Lord answered prayer on behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel ended.
I am not suggesting everyone give away all their possessions, unless God tells you to. I was convicted by the Holy Spirit how self serving my motives can be. I long to hold every gift that the Father has given me very lightly and loosely. HE may require any of them from me at any moment. Do I love the gifts or the gift giver? Who do you love? Hey, someone should write a song:) Who do you love? OK, now that everyone has given the proper Sunday school answer..."God," who do you love with the way you spend your money, time, the first fruits of your energy. Who do you love with your actions and the daily choices you make?
Apart from God each of us are in spiritual poverty, we are spiritual lepers, spiritually dead...we were dead in our sins and trespasses and HE made us alive together with Christ...GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!
NOTHING IN MY HANDS I BRING SIMPLY TO THE CROSS I CLING.
There is no room for pride at the cross, it must die, the cross will kill pride.
Oh Father in heaven,
out of my poverty I give all I am to YOU, use me for YOUR glory and my joy in YOU. Father enable me by YOUR Holy Spirit to walk there, breathe there, live there...I confess it is not where my flesh wants to stay. "Prone to wander Lord I feel it prone to leave the God I love, take my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above." Let my heart be seat apart for YOU and you alone, to love YOU, to know YOU, to enjoy YOU, delight in YOU and worship my King.
love,
m
This is one of my favorite hymns...it captures the cry of my heart so well.
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.