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Sunday School   September 24^th, 2006   Joshua 24(1), (14-24) 

 

Joshua (from Smith’s Bible Dictionary) (saviour, or whose help is Jehovah ).

His name appears in the various forms of HOSHEA, OSHEA, JEHOSHUA, JESHUA and JESUS. The son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. (1 Chronicles 7:27) (B.C. 1530-1420.) He was nearly forty years old when he shared in the hurried triumph of the exodus. He is mentioned first in connection with the fight against Amalek at Rephidim, when he was chosen by Moses to lead the Israelites. (Exodus 17:9) Soon afterward he was one of the twelve chiefs who were sent, (Numbers 13:17) to explore the land of Canaan, and one of the two, ch. (Numbers 14:6) who gave an encouraging report of their journey. Moses, shortly before his death, was directed, (Numbers 27:18) to invest Joshua with authority over the people. God himself gave Joshua a charge by the mouth of the dying lawgiver. ( 31:14,23) Under the direction of God again renewed, (Joshua 1:1) Joshua assumed the command of the people at Shittim, sent spies into Jericho, crossed the Jordan, fortified a camp at Gilgal, circumcised the people, kept the passover, and was visited by the Captain of the Lord’s host. A miracle made the fall of Jericho more terrible to the Canaanites. In the great battle of Beth-horon the Amorites were signally routed, and the south country was open to the Israelites. Joshua returned to the camp at Gilgal, master of half of Palestine. He defeated the Canaanites under Jabin king of Hazor. In six years, six tribes, with thirty-one petty chiefs, were conquered. Joshua, now stricken in years, proceeded to make the division of the conquered land. Timnath-serah in Mount Ephraim was assigned as Joshua’s peculiar inheritance. After an interval of rest, Joshua convoked an assembly from all Israel. He delivered two solemn addresses, recorded in (Joshua 23:24) He died at the age of 110 years, and was buried in his own city, Timnath-serah

 

Book of Joshua (from Smith’s Bible Dictionary)
Named from Joshua the son of Nun, who is the principal character in it. The book may be regarded as consisting of three parts:

1. The conquest of Canaan; chs. 1-12.
2. The partition of Canaan; chs. 13-22.
3. Joshua’s farewell; chs. 23,24. Nothing is really known as to the authorship of the book. Joshua himself is generally named as the author by the Jewish writers and the Christian fathers; but no contemporary assertion or sufficient historical proof of the fact exists, and it cannot be maintained without qualification. The last verses, ch. (Joshua 24:29-33) were obviously added at a later time. Some events, such as the capture of Hebron, of Debir, (Joshua 15:13-19) and Judg 1:10-15 of Leshem, (Joshua 19:47) and Judg 18:7 and the joint occupation of Jerusalem, (Joshua 15:63) and Judg 1:21 probably did not occur till after Joshua’s death. (It was written probably during Joshua’s life, or soon after his death (B.C. 1420), and includes his own records, with revision by some other person not long afterward.)

 

 

Joshua 24:1 And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.

 

 

Joshua’s final address

Joshua was a giant of a man in the history of Israel.  He had been Moses’ right hand man and followed Moses as the leader of God’s people.  God gave Israel great victories by the hand of Joshua.  He was a righteous and effective leader.  Our lesson today comes at a time when Joshua knows he has little time left on this earth.  He has a great desire to give them one last charge before he must die.  He asks them to make a covenant with God to follow Him.  He knows blessings are for those who obey and cursing for those who rebel.  Let’s examine this Scripture a little closer.

 

24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

 

Serve him with sincerity

The word translated “sincerity” means complete, whole, or entire.  God requires that His servants serve Him with their whole heart.  These people had never completely given themselves to God.  Notice the admonition that Joshua gave them.  He said to “put away the gods which your father served on the other side of the flood.”  If they didn’t have these gods among their stuff, then they couldn’t put them away.  They were of divided loyalties.  They served and prayed to God, but they also worshipped the idol gods. Listen to how God describes Himself: 2^nd Corinthians 11:2 “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” God calls Himself “jealous.”  The word means to be zealously desirous for someone.  God wants us to be faithful to Him and He will be faithful to us.  The respect or worship of an idol God is “spiritual adultery.”  God hates it!

 

24:15  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.

 

Choice

Some Bible scholars have problems deciphering this Scripture, but I think it is because they are trying to make the Scripture fit their own ideas of doctrine.  The word translated “choose” means how one decides for himself or how one elects to view something.  In other words, the choice is yours.  You can choose whether to serve God or you can serve idols.  There are blessings that come from serving God and there are cursings which come from serving idols.  It’s as simple as that.  The same principle applies today.  One has the God-given right to choose to serve God or to serve the Devil.  Along with the choice comes some repercussions.  Those who choose God receive heaven.  Those who choose Satan will spend eternity in hell.  Joshua could not make the choice for the people of Israel.  He could only decide “for me and my house.”  We are the same.  If I could make people turn to God, everybody would be saved, but each individual must decide for themselves.

 

 

24:16 And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods; 24:17  For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:24:18 And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.

 

Commitment

Along with the choice offered, there must be a commitment made in order to have a covenant.  Joshua bid them to commit to the true and living God.  The people of Israel made that commitment and promised to follow God.  They recognized it was God who delivered them from Egypt.  It was God who gave them the victories as they conquered the land.  It was God who would preserve them continually.  If they would be true to God then God would protect and cause them to prosper.  If they broke their pledge then repercussions would come.

 

24:19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

24:20 If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. 24:21 And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.24:22 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.

 

Worthless promises

The problem with the covenant that Israel made here is the same problem that accompanied the Law of Moses.  The people quickly promised to keep the Law and obey, but the power to do so was not within them.  They had a desire to follow God, but they didn’t have the ability.  The Grace Dispensation has two great advantages over the Old Testament.  One is that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.  When we fail, all we have to do is call upon His name.  The second is that we have the Holy Spirit which gives us the power to live a Godly life.  They promised and couldn’t keep the promise.  We need not promise anything.  We only need to rely on the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary.  He purchased my justification.  He makes me worthy.  He gives me the strength to do His will.

 

24:23 Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.24:24 And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.

 

Sanctification

There was something they needed to do.  In order to follow God they had to rid themselves of the idols among their possessions.  Notice the progression they must follow; first they must rid themselves of the strange gods, then they incline their hearts toward God.  As Christians we must put away the sins of our past by repenting of those sins.  Once we have repudiated our old way of living we can now dedicate ourselves to following God.  Once sin is “put away” then righteousness can come.  Once sin is repented of and our heart is inclined to God then we can proclaim “The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.”  The dedication required to make that statement sincerely can only come once someone has drawn close to God.  If it is confessed without sincerity it means nothing.  If one who has determined to follow God repeats it, then it is powerful and life changing.

 

 

 

New Living Translation (to be used as a commentary only)

1 Then Joshua summoned all the people of Israel to Shechem, along with their elders, leaders, judges, and officers. So they came and presented themselves to God.

14 "So honor the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone. 15 But if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD." 16 The people replied, "We would never forsake the LORD and worship other gods. 17 For the LORD our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. 18 It was the LORD who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the LORD, for he alone is our God." 19 Then Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you." 21 But the people answered Joshua, saying, "No, we are determined to serve the LORD!" 22 "You are accountable for this decision," Joshua said. "You have chosen to serve the LORD.""Yes," they replied, "we are accountable." 23 "All right then," Joshua said, "destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel." 24 The people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God. We will obey him alone."

 

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