Week #29. Joshua 24. Presented Live on March 29, 2015

Transcription

1 Week #29 Joshua, The Final Address Joshua 24 Presented Live on March 29, 2015 I. Introduction and review A. Joshua believed that he was near the end of his life at the start of Chapter See Jos. 23:2, 14a 2. Compare with I Kgs. 2:1-2 B. Now as chapter 24 opens, Joshua is even closer to death 1. What is the purpose, exhortation and encouragement C. But this time the Lord calls the people together at Shechem 1. Notice that they are not presenting themselves before Joshua but before the God [24:1c] 2. Normally these meetings would occur at Shiloh, that is the location of the Tabernacle 3. But instead God wanted the meeting at Shechem why? a. There is a history at Shechem b. God gave Abraham his promise of the promised land for the first time, there at Shechem [Gen. 12:6-7] Page 1 of 8

2 II. c. It was here near Shechem that Jacob purchase a plot of land and built an altar to the Lord [Gen. 33:18-20] d. And it was at Shechem that Israel recommitted their lives to their Lord in Jos. 8:30-35, after the victory at Ai e. This is the place of commitment Joshua s last address A. This message, although given the last time that Joshua spoke to the people, was not from Joshua 1. The message is from their God [24:2a] although it was spoken through Joshua B. This message begins with the history of God s redemption of the nation of Israel [24:2b-13] C. He goes back first to Terah, Abrahams father 1. He describes his dwelling place as beyond the river, that is the river Euphrates 2. There they lived in Ur of the Chaldees 3. There they served other gods, not Yahweh D. Then God called Abraham and he responded in faith 1. Notice it was not Abraham who initiated this call but God 2. Why did God choose to call Abraham? 3. Was it because Abraham was a righteous man? No because he was not. 4. Does God do things hoping they will turnout well but not sure as to what will happen 5. What does Romans 8:29-30 provide? a. God s calling results in salvation b. When He called Abraham, he was not saved c. But what does God s decision to call a man Page 2 of 8

3 or a woman ultimately rest upon His foreknowledge d. His foreknowledge of what? No, His foreknowledge of whom e. But there are those who say there is no way we can know what God bases His decisions on (1) They quote Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! (2) And Isaiah 55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. f. But other scholars state that you can know what God is thinking if (1) He tells you (2) or He shows you how to determine it g. Why did God call Abraham out of pagan idolatry in Ur of the Chaldees? Because He knew that Abraham would respond in faith. 6. So God took Abraham and led him to Canaan 7. He multiplied his descendants 8. He gave him Isaac 9. He gave Jacob to Isaac 10. They went down to Egypt, but God sent Moses to bring them out 11. God plagued Egypt 12. Then He brought His people out of Egypt Page 3 of 8

4 III. 13. He led His people through the Red Sea 14. He killed the Egyptian army in the Red Sea 15. He led them into the land of the Amorites, east of the Jordan 16. They fought with Israel, but God gave them into the hand of His people E. At each one of these points or steps in the redemptive process, who initiated the action? 1. God did. 2. And God has always been the initiator of redemption F. He then recounts actions which He took on behalf of His people 1. He recollects the miracles that God had performed on their behalf and the battles which God fought for them 2. He speaks of how God sent hornets before them to vanquish the two kings of the Amorites [24: 12] [see Ex. 23:28 & Deu. 7:20] G. He then reminds them of the land they now have, land they did not work or develop, cities that they did not build, and vineyards and olive groves which they did not plant [24:13] All of this preface is to stimulate them to respond strongly to what he says next [24:14 ] A. The people are given certain instructions 1. Fear the Lord 2. Serve Him a. In sincerity (1) ~ymit' tamiym {taw-meem'} Meaning: 1) complete, whole, entire, sound Page 4 of 8

5 (2) Latin word translated in Vulgate (3) sine without (4) cerras wax (5) Not hiding the real you even if it is bad b. And in truth (1) tm,a/ 'emeth {eh'-meth} Meaning: n f 1) firmness, faithfulness, truth (2) forth rightness 3. Put away rws cuwr {soor} or rwf suwr {soor} a. Meaning: to turn aside, depart b. Grammar: Stem - Hiphil Mood - Imperative (1) Hiphil usually expresses the "causative" action (2) He ate (he caused to eat) i.e. he fed (3) He came (he caused to come) i.e. he brought 4. Put away other gods B. Then Joshua makes the stand of the leader [24:15] As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord 2. If you are the Husband, can you make that promise? C. The people respond in like manner [24:16-18] D. Joshua s warning [24:19-20] E. The people s response [24:21] 1. Does that sound like Peter speaking to Jesus before His crucifixion? 2. Or does it sound like you promising God F. Joshua has the people make a covenant 1. He records it in the book, that is the one we are Page 5 of 8

6 reading 2. He marks it with a large stone 3. He places the stone under the oak which is near the sanctuary of the Lord a. vd'q.mi miqdash {mik-dawsh'} or vd'q.mi miqqedash {mik-ked-awsh'} Meaning: sacred place, sanctuary, holy place b. Either an old altar there c. Or the altar on Mount Ebal, Joshua and the people had built [8:30] d. Or some other similar place that was considered holy or sacred IV. Final thoughts A. Joshua s farewell speech urged Israel to stay passionately committed to their God. 1. Joshua reminded them of their God s faithfulness 2. Warned them about the perils of disobedience 3. And concluded by stating the course he had set for he and his family 4. The people followed and adopted his convictions, at least during his lifetime, because he made them both attractive and magnetic B. One of the key words in this passage is the word serve 1. It s used 15 times in this passage 2. To serve God one must be in a servant relationship with him 3. In relation to serving God Joshua made it very clear, one has to make a choice, there can be no neutrality. 4. Remember first Moses and the Joshua were Page 6 of 8

7 known as the servant of God Believer s Bible Class, & Douglas W. Brady or Page 7 of 8

8 The Names of God Part 9 Yahweh Rophe Original Name English Primary Important Meanings Translation Scripture Yahweh Rophe The LORD my Healer Ex.15: God heals on a national level.. 2. In a physical sense 3. He provides moral healing & forgiveness. 4. He repairs broken pottery and sweetens bitter waters. Page 8 of 8