8-25-24 Sermon "What Is Your Answer" - 17 Minutes

Joshua 24:1-2, 14-18

This morning I'll be reading Joshua chapter 24 verses 1-2,,, then verses 14 through 18. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Joshua 24:1-2, 14-18 These verses cover the words that Joshua shared with the Israelites in his last meeting with them. A speech where he gives them instructions that should help them honor their commitment to God. Joshua 24:1–2, 14-18 (HCSB) 1 Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem and summoned Israel’s elders, leaders, judges, and officers, 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 ancestors, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. Joshua 24:14–18 14 “Therefore, fear the Lord and worship Him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship Yahweh. 15 But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh.” 16 The people replied, “We will certainly not abandon the Lord to worship other gods! 17 For the Lord our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us all along the way we went and among all the peoples whose lands we traveled through. 18 The Lord drove out before us all the peoples, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will worship the Lord, because He is our God.” The word of God for the people of God,,, thanks be to God! God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ___________________________________ Last Sunday we looked at Proverbs 9:1-6,,, and we learned that the book of Proverbs,,, are intended to point us in the right direction.

Solomon wrote these sayings down so that we understand,,, that we need to seek wisdom,,, get wisdom,,, and understand wisdom.

Proverbs also tells us—and repeats it— that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (1:7; 9:10).

As a result of these words,,, they can guide us to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God.

We do that by following the words of the wise.

And they will always lead us to Christ!

I reminded you,,, that once we find Him,,, we should stay with Him,,, and use that knowledge and relationship to stay on the correct path,,, the path that leads to life,,, life of abundance,,, a life that last forever!

And it's always much easier to do so when we heed the words of wisdom,,, and ignore the words of folly!

The invitation is there,,, but we are still expected to take that final step and enter inside.

Be sure that you make the right choice,,, simply because there will be a life changing decision made at that time,,, and,,, you never know if it could be the last chance that you have to make that decision!

I told you to always be sure,,, exactly where you are going,,, and who is guiding you,,, along the way!

Be sure that you heed these words of Solomon,,, and always "follow wisdom",,, and not folly!

This morning we will look at these verses in Joshua,,, and see how they will help us,,, in our walk with God this week.

___________________________________ Verses 1-2 said: 1 Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem and summoned Israel’s elders, leaders, judges, and officers, 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 ancestors, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. Joshua’s last meeting with the people took place at Shechem. Whether this second gathering occurred soon after the previous one,,, whether it was held on an anniversary of the earlier,,, or whether it was after a long interval,,, cannot be determined. The geographical setting is of interest. Shechem,,, a few miles northwest of Shiloh,,, was where Abraham first received the promise that God would give his seed the land of Canaan. Abraham responded by building an altar to demonstrate his faith in the one true God (Gen. 12:6–7). Jacob,,, stopped at Shechem as well,,, on his return from Paddan Aram,,, and buried there the idols his family had brought with them (Gen. 35:4). After the Israelites completed the first phase of the conquest of Canaan they journeyed to Shechem where Joshua built an altar to Yahweh,,, inscribed the Law of God on stone pillars,,, and reviewed these laws for all the people (Josh. 8:30–35). So,,, Joshua had good reason,,, therefore,,, to gather the Israelites at this location. Certainly the stones on which the Law had been written were still standing,,, vivid reminders of that significant event. From this moment on,,, that beautiful valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim,,, would be associated with this touching farewell scene as their honored leader spoke to them for the last time. From verses 1 & 2,,, God was identified,,, as the Author of the covenant,,, and Israel,,, as the people. Following this introduction,,, we have the list,,, of all of the accomplishments that they achieved with God's help.

We can see that any greatness Israel achieved,,, was not by her effort but through God’s grace and enablement.

From first to last,,, Israel’s conquests,,, deliverances,,, and prosperity,,, were because of God’s good mercies,,, and were not of their own making.

___________________________________ Verse 14 said: 14 “Therefore, fear the Lord and worship Him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship Yahweh.

The stipulations of the covenant renewal were then stated: -- Israel must fear the LORD and serve Him.

They must get rid of all of the gods that their fathers worshipped.

In the Hittite treaties all other foreign alliances were to be rejected; so in this covenant Israel was to reject alliances with all foreign gods.

Joshua boldly challenged them to choose between the gods of Ur their ancestors worshiped (cf. v. 2) beyond the River (i.e., the Euphrates), the gods of the Amorites in Canaan, and Yahweh.

___________________________________ Verse 15 said: 15 But if it doesn’t please you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship Yahweh.”

Joshua tells them,,, again,,, that they must make a choice,,, if they don't intend to worship God,,, they must choose,,, either the gods that their fathers worshipped,,, or the gods of the Amorites.

My Commentary says,,, the choice here was not between the LORD and idols: -- Joshua assumed that the people had already decided against serving God.

So he challenged them to choose between the gods which their ancestors had served in Mesopotamia and the gods of the Amorites that they had found in Canaan.

And then,,, adding example to support his proclamation,,, Joshua assured them that whatever their choice,,, his mind was made up,,, his course clear: -- as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.

Regardless of "their" choice,,, his family must worship God,,, and God alone!

Joshua’s noble decision for himself and his household has been an inspiration to succeeding generations of believers,,, ever since that day!

___________________________________ Verses 16-18 said: 16 The people replied, “We will certainly not abandon the Lord to worship other gods! 17 For the Lord our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us all along the way we went and among all the peoples whose lands we traveled through. 18 The Lord drove out before us all the peoples, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will worship the Lord, because He is our God.”

The people responded with enthusiasm,,, moved by the force of Joshua’s arguments,,, and the strength of his example.

At this point,,, they despised the very thought of forsaking the God who had delivered them out of Egypt … that land of slavery … protected them in the wilderness, and brought them into the land of promise.

““We will certainly not abandon the Lord to worship other gods!”,,, was their instant reply.

They promised that they too,,, would serve the LORD.

___________________________________ Would they keep their promise?

Sadly,,, I'm sure all of you know the answer to that question,,, and you know that the answer is no!

And,,, if we are honest,,, we haven't kept our promise either!

We don't have wooden or metal idols in our houses,,, but we do allow ourselves to be led by the ways of the world way too much!

That has become our idols!

A little change here,,, and a little change there,,, over the course of many years,,, and before you knew it,,, God isn't at the top of our list anymore.

___________________________________ So what do we do now?

The answer is in verse 14,,, “Therefore, fear the Lord and worship Him in sincerity and truth

We must put our focus on God once again.

When we leave here today,,, the fear of the Lord,,, and the worship of the Lord in sincerity and truth,,, must leave with us!

This needs to be something that we are focused on every day of the week,,, not just Sunday morning.

We need it when we wake up,,, all throughout the day,,, and we need it before we fall asleep!

It goes with us to our jobs,,, our schools,,, traveling,,, shopping,,, vacationing,,, no matter where we are,,, or what we are doing,,, this should be on our minds.

If we are honest,,, God isn't on our minds when we leave here like He should be!

We can't come to church on Sunday,,, and truly worship God,,, when we haven't put Him first the six previous days.

God loves us,,, and sent His Son to die for our sins so that our relationship could be restored,,, and we ignore Him,,, way too much,,, each and every day,,, and that must change.

Joshua knew that the Israelites were needing help going forward,,, and he gave them the best advise that he could.

That advise is there for us as well,,, do we truly hear the words that he spoke that day?

Will we honor them going forward?

I remind you again,,, of the answer in verse 14,,, “Therefore, fear the Lord and worship Him in sincerity and truth

And remind you what Joshua's answer was as well,,, when he said,,, that famous answer that we know so well,,, but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

My question to you as we end,,, what about you,,, “What is your answer”,,, and what will it be tomorrow,,, Tuesday,,, Wednesday,,, the rest of the days,,, because when we are obeying the way that we should,,, that will be true,,, each and every day of our life,,, not just Sunday morning!

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