A Line in the Sand
Joshua • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 10 viewsJoshua's final speech. Call for commitment
Notes
Transcript
Background to passage:
14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods,
17 for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed.
18 And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”
19 But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.
20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.”
21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.”
22 Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”
23 He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
24 And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.”
25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem.
26 And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the Lord.
27 And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.”
28 So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.
Opening illustration:
Main thought:
1) The Nature of the Choice (v. 14, 23)
1) The Nature of the Choice (v. 14, 23)
14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
23 He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
1) The Nature of the Choice (v. 14, 23)
1) The Nature of the Choice (v. 14, 23)
Explanation:
1 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;
6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!
112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.
Illustration:
Application:
2) The Nature of the Covenant (v. 19-21)
2) The Nature of the Covenant (v. 19-21)
19 But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.
20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.”
21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.”
2) The Nature of the Covenant (v. 19-21)
2) The Nature of the Covenant (v. 19-21)
Explanation:
10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.
11 I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.
12 I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.
6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
Illustration:
Application:
3) The Nature of the Community (v. 22-25)
3) The Nature of the Community (v. 22-25)
22 Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”
23 He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
24 And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.”
25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem.
3) The Nature of the Community (v. 22-25)
3) The Nature of the Community (v. 22-25)
Explanation:
17 You have declared today that the Lord is your God, and that you will walk in his ways, and keep his statutes and his commandments and his rules, and will obey his voice.
Illustration:
Application:
Closing illustration:
Recap
