CHAPTER 23Joshua’s Last Words – Israel’s Future Dangers
Key Passage:
The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. [6] The lines arefallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Joshua the son of Nun started in Egyptian bondage and ended in a worship service in the Promised Land. Inbetween those events God had used him to lead Israel in the land
(Chapters 1-5),
the land
(Chapters 6-12),
the land
(Chapters 13-22),
andnow Joshua the covenant
(Chapters 23-24).
Joshua’s Last Words (verses 1-2)
1.At the end of a long and full life, Joshua’s greatest concern wasn’t .
•
His greatest concern was his people and their to the Lord.
•
He didn’t want to leave until he had challenged them once again to love the Lord and keep Hiscommandments.
•
Joshua is years of age in
Chapters 23-24
(Judges 2:8; Joshua 24:29).
2.He first called a meeting of the leaders of the nation
(verse 2),
either at Shiloh or at his home in Ephraim,and warned them what would happen if they deserted the Lord.3.Then he gathered
“all the tribes of Israel to Shechem”
(Joshua 24:1)
and gave a farewell addresswhich reviewed the history of Israel, starting with Abraham, and challenged the people to love the Lord andserve Him alone.
What the Lord for Israel(verses 3-4)
1.From the day that Israel left Egypt, the Lord had fought for His people and delivered them from their enemies.2.The same God who overcame the enemy in the could help Israel overcome them in the.
•
God had never failed His people; and, if they would trust Him and obey His Word, He would helpthem completely conquer the land - “
for the Lord your God is he that hath fought for you
”
(verse 3).
•
The people in God’s plan may change; but His character never changes, and He can be trusted.
What the Lord to Israel(verses 5-10)
1.The secret of Joshua’s success, and therefore the reason for Israel’s victories, was histo the Word of God
(verse 6, Joshua 1:7-9 & 13-18, 8:30-35; 11:12 & 15, 24:26-27).
2.It was important that Israel remain a people and not be infected by thewickedness of the Gentile nations around them
(verses 7-8; Exodus. 34:10-17; Deuteronomy 7:2-4).
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Joshua warned them that their disobedience would be a gradual thing.
•
Imagine the folly of
worshiping
the
gods
of
the
defeated
enemy
!3.The word translated
“
”
in
verse 8
is used in
Genesis 2:24
to describe ahusband’s relationship to his wife.
•
means to join fast together; to glue together; to be bound together; to be sototally united together that two become one.
•
It would be like
“laminated wood.”
4.The promise in
verse 10
is quoted from
Deuteronomy 32:30 (Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 3:22).
5.These verses are a challenge to develop their with their Creator and Sustainer.
•
Takes courage to do right. Don’t be ashamed of living what this Book says
(verse 6).
•
Stay separated!
Come not among your enemies
(verse 7; Matthew 10:34-39; II Corinthians 6:17).
Stay simple and naïve about sin and the world
(Romans 16:19; I Corinthians 14:20).
•
Cleave unto the Lord
(verse 8)
- The heart is so important to surrender and keep surrendered.
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