Third Presbyterian Church Tuesday Bible Study Old Testament Tour - Joshua Lesson 41 The Covenant Renewed at Shechem

Transcription

1 Page 1 Third Presbyterian Church Tuesday Bible Study Old Testament Tour - Joshua Lesson 41 The Covenant Renewed at Shechem Joshua 24:1-27 (NIV) 1 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. 2 Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. 5 "'Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out. 6 When I brought your fathers out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. 7 But they cried to the LORD for help, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the desert for a long time. 8 "'I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land. 9 When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. 10 But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand. 11 "'Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. 12 I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you--also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. 13 So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.' 14 "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." 16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! 17 It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God." 19 Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you." 21 But the people said to Joshua, "No! We will serve the LORD." 22 Then Joshua said, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD." "Yes, we are witnesses," they replied. 23 "Now then," said Joshua, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel." 24 And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him." 25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he drew up for them decrees and laws. 26 And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD. 27 "See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God."

2 Page 2 QUESTIONS 1. Joshua assembled all of the tribes of the nation of Israel together. One can almost say this was a worship service or revival of sorts. Joshua is giving history, present state and what future holds. Joshua is giving important instruction for victorious living. Hebrews 10:25 (NIV) 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. A. Looking at what is outlined above why it is important to be in regular attendance to worship service and Bible Study? B. What do you see as consequences of missing service and teaching moments on a regular basis? C. What are the benefits of fellowship with other believers? 2. We often say that God has brought me from a mighty long way. A. Why is it important to remember in detail from where God has brought us? B. When is it most helpful for you to be reminded of God s faithfulness in the past? C. What are the most significant things that you have seen the Lord do in your life? D. What do you see are the consequences of failing to remember how far God has brought you? 3. What are some of the things that hinder you from fully surrendering to the Lord? 4. How can/should Christians keep each other accountable in their walk with the Lord? 5. What sort of witness could you establish to remind you of your commitment to the Lord? 6. What area of your life do you want to surrender more fully to the Lord? HOMEWORK FOR YOURSELF Write down with as much detail as you can about your deliverance journey. Speak about where God found you, the victories won, the battles lost, the struggles that continue..write it all down in a journal and continue to add to it in that you can leave it as a legacy to the next generation. Remember you may be the only bible someone will ever read so give others the change to read about you and the Lord.

3 Page 3 The Final Admonition Given by Joshua to God's People and Joshua's Death: The Call to Decision to Renew the Covenant, Recommit One's Life to God, 24:1-33 (24:1-33) Introduction: death was staring Joshua squarely in the face. He was to die soon, very soon. A deep sense of urgency gripped his heart, an urgency to summon all the Israelites together for a final word of exhortation and encouragement. This was the farewell address of Joshua, the final words he ever spoke to the Israelites. After this, he died. This is the subject of the present Scripture, the very end of Joshua's life: The Final Admonition Given by Joshua to God's People and His Death: The Call to Decision to Renew the Covenant, Recommit One's Life to God, 24: (24:1-2) Decision, Called to Shechem Joshua, Final Word to Israel: this call was issued by God Himself. Joshua clearly stated this. In obedience to the Lord, Joshua summoned all the people of Israel together at Shechem. These would be the last words Joshua would ever share with the people of God, so he most likely chose Shechem because of its illustrious history. It was here that God gave the first pledge of the promised land to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:6-7). And when Abraham's descendants are mentioned, it is always heartwarming. For the promise given to Abraham's descendants was given to all the descendants of faith, which includes all the genuine believers of all generations Also, here at Shechem, Jacob had purchased a piece of ground and built an altar (Genesis 33:18-20). It was also at Shechem where the Israelites had recommitted their lives to the Lord and His covenant (see outline Joshua 8:30-35 and note Joshua 8:30-35 for more discussion). The final message of Joshua to the people of God would be spoken from this illustrious sight, a place that was indeed "holy ground" to the people of God. There was no question about the subject of Joshua's message. The final words he would ever speak to the people of God were those given by God Himself: "this is what the Lord says" (Joshua 24:2): "choose...this day whom you will serve" (Joshua 24:15, paraphrased). 2. (24:2-13) Call, Duty, to Remember Remember, Duty History, of Redemption Israel, History of: the call to Israel was to remember the history of redemption (salvation). From the beginning of Israel's history, it had been God who had chosen them to be His followers and witnesses upon this earth. It was God who had saved Abraham from a life of idolatry and false worship, who had given him the hope of the promised land and the promised seed (descendants). The steps of redemption taken by God in saving the Israelites is clearly seen in the Scripture and outline. The Scripture and outline above are sufficient for scanning the history of redemption up through the time of Joshua. A more detailed study can be pursued by turning to each of the events in The Preachers Outline and Sermon Bible. For the purposes of this particular study, four significant facts need to be noted.

4 Page 4 1. The focus of redemptive history is God Himself. Note each of the points or steps of redemption covered by Joshua, how each one was initiated by God. It was God who saved and delivered His people, beginning with Abraham and stretching all the way through history up until the time of Joshua. The very subject of redemptive history began with God. In fact, the Lord is referred to over twenty times in this chapter alone. 2. The promised seed was one of the great promises given to Abraham and to his descendants. The promised seed has a threefold meaning: a. The promised seed means Abraham and his descendants, the Israelites. "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing" (Genesis 12:1-2). "And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee" (Genesis 17:6-7). b. The promised seed is a reference to the Messiah, the Savior of the world. "Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities" (Acts 3:25-26). c. The promised seed is a reference to all the descendants of faith, to all believers of all generations. "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith" (Romans 4:11-13). 3. The promised land is the great hope and inheritance given by God to His people. Just as the Lord gave the promised land of Canaan to the Israelites, so the Lord will give the promised land of heaven to His genuine followers. (See Deeper Study #2 Joshua 1:3-4 for more discussion.) 4. The Israelites were pilgrims and sojourners until they inherited the promised land from God. Note this fact in the major points of their history given in the Scripture and outline above. This is the reason their history is called the history of redemption. They were just pilgrims and sojourners wandering upon the face of the earth until God Himself gave them the promised land. They had not possessed an acre of land for generations. Ever since the nation's birth, the people had been pilgrims and sojourners, without a home or a place to call their own. All they had was hope, the hope of the promised land that God had promised to give them as an inheritance.

5 Page 5 But note this fact: the inheritance of the promised land was conditional. The Israelites would receive the inheritance only if they followed God, obeyed Him, and kept His commandments. If they did not follow God, but rather disobeyed Him and broke His commandments, then they would not receive the inheritance. They would be cast out of the promised land. As has been seen through the great book of Joshua, the Israelites were faithful in following after God. With the exception of just a few failures, the present generation had been faithful, obedient to God under the leadership of Joshua. Therefore, they had received the inheritance of the promised land. The fact to keep in mind is this: up until this time in their history, they had been pilgrims and sojourners upon the earth, a people living in tents and having no permanent residence. They were just passing through this life, moving ever forward in the hope of receiving the future inheritance promised by God, the inheritance of the promised land. "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13). "For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come" (Hebrews 13:14). 3. (24:14-18) Decision, Duty Choosing, Duty Believer, Duty Commitment, Duty Covenant, Duty Dedication, Duty: the call to Israel was to make a decision for the Lord. Note the word "now" in verse 14: this indicates that the Lord's personal message to Israel had now ended and that Joshua himself was giving the exhortation to the Israelites. Up to this point, Joshua had been preaching the prophetic message of the Lord, but now he shared from his own heart. This is his final message to the people, the last opportunity he will ever have to extend an invitation, to call the people to make a decision for God. This is one of the most straightforward invitations ever given, one of the most clear-cut decisions ever presented to a people. 1. The strong exhortation was straightforward. Joshua challenged the people to take immediate action, to get right with God (Joshua 24:14). Two actions were necessary: a. The people must "fear" the Lord b. The people must serve the Lord, putting away all false gods and false worship. The Lord alone was to be served exclusively. There was no neutral ground. Note that Joshua actually charged the people to put away false gods and false worship. Remember it had been over twenty years since Joshua had led the Israelites in the conquest of the promised land (see outline Joshua 23:1-2 and note Joshua 23:1-2, for more discussion). A question: Over these twenty-plus years, had some of the people begun to fellowship with their neighbors and participate in their false worship? Some commentators think so. However, Joshua had stated in his sermon to the leaders that the Israelites had been holding fast to the Lord up until now (Joshua 23:8). Perhaps Joshua was merely being cautious in case some Israelites were engaging in idolatry and false worship; so he challenged them: put away the false gods and false worship. This was an exhortation that would be needed down through the generations and an exhortation that God's people still need today, no matter who they are or in what generation they are living. It is a warning that is constantly needed by the believer. 2. The decision to be made was clear-cut: choose this day whom you will serve... the false gods of your forefathers and of others the Lord "as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15)

6 Page 6 The decision to be made is one of total commitment, a commitment of devotion and consecration, of loyalty and faithfulness. It is a commitment and allegiance that will obey God, keeping His Holy Word and commandments. 3. The response called for involves two strong confessions from a person (Joshua 24:16-18). Would the Israelites make these confessions of loyalty and allegiance to the Lord? Would they make a total commitment to Him? a. The people made a strong confession never to forsake the Lord (Joshua 24:16-18). They declared that they would never turn away from the Lord, never commit apostasy against Him. Note why: because the Lord had saved them out of the slavery of Egypt (a symbol of this world and its enslavement). They declared that they would serve the God who saves. because the Lord had led them through the wilderness wanderings or journeys (a symbol of this world). They declared that they would serve the God who guides His people. because the Lord had protected them from all the enemies of this world. They declared that they would serve the God of protection, the God who protects His people. because the Lord had given them victory over all enemies of the promised land, the enemies who had tried to defeat and destroy them, attempting to keep them out of the promised land (Joshua 24:18). They declared that they would serve the God of the victorious life, the God who gives victory over all enemies as a person walks throughout life. b. The Israelites made a strong confession of renewed dedication. They recommitted themselves to serve the Lord. In this confession they were renewing their commitment and covenant with God. Thought 1. We must make a decision for the Lord, a decision to believe and follow Him wholeheartedly a decision to serve the Lord with all that we are and have. There is no room for neutrality: a decision has to be made. Neither is there any room for delay or hesitancy, no allowance granted for putting the decision off. God demands that a decision be made, and in fact, it is automatically made: if a person does not make the decision to accept God, he is choosing to reject Him. Here is the decision that must be made; here is the decision clearly spelled out by Scripture: "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15). "Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ" (Matthew 27:17). DEEPER STUDY #1 (24:14) Fear Reverence God, Fear of God, Reverence of 4. (24:19-24) Judgment, Warning Against Warning, of Judgment: the call to Israel is to heed the warning of judgment. What now happened is somewhat shocking, for Joshua had just encouraged the people to make a

7 Page 7 decision of total commitment to God. And the people had made that decision. Yet, note Joshua's response: he declared that they were not able to serve the Lord. What did he mean? The words were not to be taken in an absolute sense. Joshua was arousing them to count the cost of their decision. If they were making a false decision, they would face the terrible judgment of God. They had to make sure, absolutely sure, that they meant what they were professing. To drive home the seriousness of the moment, Joshua gave a threefold warning to the people. 1. The first warning concerned God's holiness (Joshua 24:19). God is holy; He is a jealous God. Therefore, He will not deal superficially with sin. He will not forgive rebellion if a person rebels against Him by turning to false gods and to false worship. God is so holy so righteous and pure that He cannot look upon sin. God is so holy that He is unapproachable and His presence cannot be violated by sinful man. His holy presence is protected by His zeal for holiness. 2. The second warning concerned God's final judgment (Joshua 24:20-21). If the Israelites forsook the Lord and engaged in the worship of the false gods and false worship of their neighbors, they would face a terrible end. The Lord would destroy them. And this would be most tragic, for He had been ever so good to them. The blessings of the promised land that are given to the obedient would cease, and God's people would experience the curses of the covenant (see outline Joshua 8:30-35 and note Joshua 8:30-35, for more discussion). Note the emphatic response of the people when Joshua gave this second warning: the people stressed their renewed commitment or covenant (Joshua 24:21). They shouted out that they would serve the Lord, Him and Him alone. 3. The third warning concerned the people themselves. Joshua responded by declaring that they would be witnesses against themselves accountable for their decision. Once again, he charged them to put away all false gods and false worship. They must do exactly what they professed: serve and obey the Lord (Joshua 24:22-24). Thought 1. There are two lessons in this point for us. 1) God is holy and He is jealous of His holiness. He will not deal superficially with sin or rebellion against Him. After all, God is the Supreme Creator and Sovereign Majesty of the universe. He is the very embodiment of light in all of its purity and focused power. There is no darkness in God, none whatsoever. God is pure, righteous, free from all contamination and pollution and dirt. God dwells in the perfection of being. He is the very embodiment of energy and being. He is the Sovereign Lord who rules over all that is, has been, or ever will be. He will never tolerate or deal superficially with sin. Again, God is holy; God is jealous of His presence. And He will protect His holy presence from any contaminating person. "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15-16). "Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders" (Exodus 15:11). 2) There is to be a final judgment, a day when the world will end and every human being will stand before God to be judged. Any person who has ever turned away from the only living and true God who engages in idolatry and false worship will be condemned to eternal separation from God.

8 Page 8 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left" (Matthew 25:31-33). "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19). 5. (24:25-28) Memorial, to the Covenant Covenant, Memorial of Commitment, Duty Remembrance, Duty Forgetting, Duty: the call to Israel was to memorialize their renewed covenant or commitment. On the very day of their renewed commitment to the Lord, Joshua made a covenant for the people. He actually wrote the covenant down, making their commitment a permanent and binding contract between the Israelites and the Lord. What exactly did Joshua write down or record? The decision (commitment) they had made to the Lord and, most likely, some of the laws and statutes that had been given by the Lord through Moses. Note, all this was recorded in the Book of the Law of God (Joshua 24:25-26). Joshua then erected a large stone memorial to the covenant. He declared that this stone memorial would be a witness against the people if they broke their commitment to the Lord (Joshua 24:27). The memorial would always stand as a witness for God's people to remember, never forgetting the covenant they had made with God: that they would serve the Lord, the Lord God of Joshua and his family (Joshua 2:15). Again, if they ever broke the covenant, their commitment, the memorial would stand as a witness against them. Joshua then sent the people home (Joshua 24:28). The brilliant military commander and strategist had just spoken his final words to the Israelites, the last exhortation he would ever give to them. Knowing that he was about to die, no doubt he shared a final farewell with them that is not recorded. They obviously lined up to say "good-bye" for the last time. A person can just imagine Joshua embracing those who had served so closely with him through the years of military combat. What a touching scene that must have been for Joshua, one of the greatest commanders and military strategists of all time. Thought 1. We must remember, even memorialize, the commitments and covenants we make with God. When we make a decision for God, He takes that commitment seriously. No commitment is considered superficial by God; rather, the commitment is very serious in God's eyes. Keeping the commitment alive within our hearts, before our eyes is our responsibility. It is essential absolutely essential to remember the decisions we have made for the Lord, never forgetting them. "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons" (Deut. 4:9). "And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage" (Deut. 6:10-12).

9 Page 9 6. (24:29-33) Death, Fact of Joshua, Death of Joseph, Bones of, Burial Eleazar, the High Priest, Death: the way of all men is death. This is the emphasis of the last few verses of this great book of Joshua. The death and burial of three prominent persons are discussed. 1. The way of all men came to Joshua: he died (Joshua 24:29-31). The day arrived when this brilliant military commander and strategist left this earth. He ceased to be. Note that he is called for the very first time "the servant of the Lord." This was a title that had been given to only one other person in all of history: Moses. Joshua had proven to be a faithful servant of the Lord; therefore, he was to be elevated to a position of honor just as Moses had been. Joshua died at 110 years, the same as that of Joseph when he died (Genesis 50:26). Note that he was buried in the land of his inheritance: Timnath Serah (Joshua 24:30). This is significant, for up until this time, the people of God had no inheritance upon the earth; therefore they always had to purchase a grave sight from other owners of the land. Note another significant fact: the Israelites were faithful to God throughout the entire lifetime of Joshua and the elders who served with him. What a striking testimony to the faithfulness of Joshua in setting a dynamic example for the Lord! What an impact he had upon the life of others! 2. Death had taken Joseph centuries before, but the Israelites, having preserved his bones, brought them out of Egypt. At his death, Joseph had requested that his bones be preserved and buried in the promised land (Genesis 50:25). The Expositor's Bible Commentary says this: The burial of "Joseph's bones" symbolized the completion of an era and the fulfillment of God's promises to the Patriarchs. When he gave instructions for his remains to be buried in Canaan, Joseph manifested great faith in the promises of God (Genesis 50:24-25; cf. Exodus 13:19: in both passages Joseph's remains are a symbol of God's promise being fulfilled; cf. Hebrews 11:22)... The burial plots purchased by Abraham and Jacob were symbolic of their faith that God would give the whole land to their descendants. The burial of Joseph's remains provides a fitting conclusion to the long saga that began with the call of Abraham. 3. Death claimed Eleazar, the High Priest, and he was buried at Gibeah (Joshua 24:33). The grave sight was in Ephraim on a tract of land given to him by his own son, Phinehas, who was to succeed him as High Priest. Thought 1. Death is the way of all men no person escapes it. Even this great servant of the Lord, Joshua, died. And the High Priest Eleazar died. Death is inevitable. As bleak as it is, because it is inevitable, death must be faced. Here is what Scripture says about death: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12). "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Thought 2. Joshua had fought a good fight and finished his race faithfully before the Lord. He had kept the faith. Consequently, when he died, he went to be with the Lord. And there was laid up for him a crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, would award him on that day and not to him only, but all who love him and long for His appearance.

10 Page 10 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:7-8). James Montgomery Boice says this: Joshua had fought the good fight. He had finished his race. He had kept the faith. Now there was laid up for him that crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, would award him on that day and not to him only, but to all who love him and long for his appearing (see 2 Tim. 4:7-8). What more can any of us do? We cannot make others' choices for them; we cannot guarantee their future. In this case, we are told that "Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel" (Joshua 24:31). But in the very next book of the Bible, in the second chapter where this very verse is repeated, we are told, "After that whole generation had been gathered to their father, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. They forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them..." (Judges 2:10-12). That may be true in our case, also. A generation from now, those who follow us may utterly forsake the Lord. They may go after the evil gods of our materialistic culture. But we must not do it! We must say with Joshua, "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Thought 3. Irving L. Jensen closes his commentary on the great book of Joshua with these words: The words appended to the book of Joshua recording the burial of three of God's servants Joshua, Joseph, and Eleazar are a fitting conclusion to the theme of the book, in the sense of what is suggested beyond their earthly lives. Canaan was given for an inheritance. But the land at most was a temporary inheritance. For Joseph, who had died in Egypt, there was only a cemetery plot in the land for his bones (cf. Genesis 50:25-26; Exodus 13:19). For Eleazar, the high priest, there had been the blessed privilege of sharing Joshua's service to God in the distribution of the land (Numbers 34:17); but he died. For Joshua, there was the ministry of leading his people to serve God, a ministry that extended even beyond his lifetime, but he also died. But these died in faith. The rest of Canaan land, blessed as it was, was but for the short span of a lifetime. Projected into the life beyond, in the bosom of the Father, this rest would be transformed to eternal rest. Not one inheritance, but two and this is the blessed word preached to God's people of all ages. Thought 4. The expositor Warren W. Wiersbe closes his commentary on the great book of Joshua with these words: Moses had named Joshua as his successor, but it's significant that God didn't tell Joshua to appoint a successor. The elders who had served with Joshua guided the nation after his death, but then the people went astray and began to disobey the Lord and worship the false gods of the Canaanites (Judges 2:6-15). Why didn't the next generation know the Lord and what He had done for Israel? Because the people of Joshua's generation failed to keep their promise and teach their children and grandchildren to fear and serve the Lord. God kept His promise and chastened His people, first by bringing other nations into the land (Judges 2:14-19), and then by taking the Jews out of their land, the Northern Kingdom to Assyria and the Southern Kingdom to Babylon. But one day the Lord will regather His people Israel and establish them in their land (Isaiah 11-12;

11 Page 11 Isaiah 51-52; Ezekiel 36:24ff). Then "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14). Thought 5. John Huffman closes his commentary on the great book of Joshua with these words: An era has come to an end. It was with a kind of melancholy that I shared a last message from the life of Joshua with my congregation. I'd like to think that Joshua's final message would have a permanent effect, just as I'd like to think that my preaching would change lives for the long haul. The fact is that there are cycles in the spiritual life of nations and of individual people. The next era would be that of the Judges. Again, it's important to emphasize that even though Joshua was dead, the positive results of his leadership lived on. The final word was not the stone of witness, the death of Joshua, the burial of the bones of Joseph, or the death of Eleazar. The final word is that the choice modeled by Joshua all of his life and the call to decision by the Holy Spirit of God had it impact. The Jews in future generations would have ups and downs spiritually, as has every generation. But the decisions made that day at Shechem were not flippant, casual, emotionally induced decisions. The bottom-line choice had a staying power. The Book of Joshua concludes on this very positive note that we must never forget: "Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the Lord which He had done for Israel" (Joshua 24:31). My prayer is that this can be said about those of us who are called to communicate the Word of God and also about those who will hear that Word from us and outlive us by decades, while at the same time remaining faithful to decisions made as a result of our faithful teaching and preaching. Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible Joshua.