The Leaders' Preparation to Live Victoriously

William T van't Wout

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CHAPTER 23

B. The Final Admonition Given by Joshua to the Leaders: The Preparations That Leaders Need to Make to Live Victoriously in the Promised Land,

1. The final admonition of Joshua to the leaders of Israel

a. He was elderly

b. He & Israel had experienced many years of “God’s rest”

And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.

c. He summoned all the leadership (see 24:1)

2. The charge to obey the LORD & to live a life of strict separation

2 And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:

a. Remember the blessings of God

1) He has given victory over the enemies of the promised land

3 And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.

2) He has given you the inheritance of the promised land: All that has been conquered & all that remains to be conquered

4 Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

3) He will continue to conquer & give victory over all enemies

4) He will give you more & more of the promised land: A picture of the victorious life

5 And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.

b. Hear the admonition

1) Be courageous, strong, careful to obey God’s Word: Keep all His commandments

6 Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;

2) Live a life of strict separation

• Do not associate with the immoral, unrighteous & worldly

• Never become involved with false worship

7 That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the names of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

• Cleave—hold fast to the LORD

8 But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.

3. The charge to love the LORD

a. Remember the blessings of God

1) He has given you total & complete victory: Over powerful enemies

9 For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.

2) He has given you miraculous power to defeat the enemy: Through His power

10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

b. Hear the admonition: Love the LORD

11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.

c. Heed the warning: Judgment

1) The cause for judgment

• Turning away—backsliding—apostasy

• Worldliness: Fellowshipping, intermarrying with the worldly

12 Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:

2) The judgment: What is sown will be reaped

• The worldly enemy will cling, remain: Be a snare or trap

• The ultimate judgment: Will be led into captivity—perish from the land

13 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

4. The warning to heed the judgment of God

a. Remember this most wonderful blessing of God

1) He has fulfilled all His “good” promises

2) Not a single promise has ever failed

14 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.

b. Heed the warning: The surety of God’s judgment

1) Just as surely as God fulfilled His promises, so He will bring disaster & destroy you: A picture of spiritual captivity & death

15 Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

2) Just as surely as you break the covenant or commandments of God & engage in false worship, you will perish: A picture of spiritual captivity & death

16 When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

B. The Final Admonition Given by Joshua to the Leaders: The Preparations That Leaders Need to Make to Live Victoriously in the Promised Land, 23:1–16

(23:1–16) Introduction: What would be your final words upon this earth if you knew you were about to die? What would you say to your family or friends? If you were the head of a major organization, what would you say to your subordinate leaders, your managers and supervisors of various departments? If you were the leader of a nation, what would be your final words to the top officials of the various departments of government?

This is the subject of this present passage of Scripture. Joshua is about to die. But before he goes to be with the LORD, he must do all he can to prepare the leadership of Israel to take his place. He must place upon the soldiers the mantle of leadership. But just turning over the leadership to them will not necessarily make them great leaders. Somehow, some way, he must arouse them to pick up the torch of leadership—being strong, courageous, loyal leaders before God and the people. This is the subject of this important passage of Scripture: The Final Admonition Given by Joshua to the Leaders: The Preparations That Leaders Need to Make to Live Victoriously in the Promised Land, 23:1–16.

1. The final admonition of Joshua to the leaders of Israel (vv.1–2).

2. The charge to obey the LORD and to live a life of strict separation (vv.2–8).

3. The charge to love the LORD (vv.9–13).

4. The warning to heed the judgment of God (vv.14–16).

1 (23:1–2) Admonition, of Joshua—Spiritual Rest, of Israel—Israel, Spiritual Rest of—Joshua, Admonitions of: this is the final admonition of Joshua to the leaders of Israel. He is elderly now and soon to pass away to be with the LORD. This he knows; therefore he must do all he can to establish the leaders and prepare them to take over the leadership of the nation. The mantle of leadership must be placed upon their shoulders. Joshua must make sure that they are walking in the LORD and will continue to walk in the LORD. Thus he summons all the leaders to a meeting so he can challenge them to obey and love the LORD and heed the warning of His judgment if they fail to obey Him.

OUTLINE

SCRIPTURE

1. The final admonition of Joshua to the leaders of Israel

a. He was elderly

b. He & Israel had experienced many years of “God’s rest”

And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.

c. He summoned all the leadership (see 24:1)

2 And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:

For many years Israel had been experiencing God’s rest, living a life of peace and security, experiencing God’s wonderful blessings and provision in the land that flowed with milk and honey. The people had probably been experiencing the rest of God for over twenty years. This is known because of Joshua’s age: at the end of the conquest of the promised land, he was approximately the age of Caleb who was 85 years old (14:10). Joshua died at the age of 110 (24:29). So there is most likely a twenty to twenty-five year period when Israel was experiencing God’s rest under the leadership of this great servant of God.

The leaders had been summoned and were seated before Joshua, the great military commander and strategist, but even more, the great servant of God. Caleb was there seated before him, along with all the military leaders who had served under his command during the conquest of the promised land. The religious leaders were there including Eleazar the High Priest and his son Phinehas, who was some day to replace him. All the tribal leaders, judges, and officials of the nations were there—every leader.

What would this great military commander, this strong servant of the LORD say on such an occasion as this? What would be his final admonition to the leaders of the nation as he passed the torch of leadership to them?

2 (23:2–8) Blessings, of God—Spiritual Separation, Duty—Obedience, Duty—Commandments, Duty—Word of God, Duty: Joshua charged the leaders to obey the LORD and to live a life of strict separation. Note how Joshua began by covering the blessings of God and then issuing his strong admonition:

OUTLINE

SCRIPTURE

2. The charge to obey the LORD & to live a life of strict separation

2 And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:

a. Remember the blessings of God

1) He has given victory over the enemies of the promised land

3 And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.

2) He has given you the inheritance of the promised land: All that has been conquered & all that remains to be conquered

4 Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

3) He will continue to conquer & give victory over all enemies

4) He will give you more & more of the promised land: A picture of the victorious life

5 And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.

b. Hear the admonition

1) Be courageous, strong, careful to obey God’s Word: Keep all His commandments

6 Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;

2) Live a life of strict separation

• Do not associate with the immoral, unrighteous & worldly

• Never become involved with false worship

7 That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the names of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

• Cleave—hold fast to the LORD

8 But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.

a. The leaders were challenged to remember the blessings of God, what God had done for them (vv.3–5). God had done so much for His dear people, and note, they had been eyewitnesses of His blessings. The promises of God had been fulfilled in their lives.

1) God had given them victory over the enemies of the promised land (v.3). Enemy after enemy had stood toe-to-toe with them. But God had given strength and power to His people, great strength and power. And they were able to defeat all the enemies that had tried to keep them out of the promised land.

2) God had given His dear people the inheritance of the promised land (v.4). This included all the land that had already been conquered and all that remained to be conquered, a land that stretched all the way from the Jordan River over to the Great Sea, the Mediterranean Sea (v.4). Remember, Joshua had broken the back of the enemy in the promised land, conquering the major city-states of the Canaanites. Only the weaker cities remained for the individual tribes of Israel to conquer. These were to be conquered “little by little” as the tribes were able to populate and settle the cities (see outline and note, pt.1,c—, for more discussion).

3) God would continue to conquer and give victory over all the enemies of the promised land (v.5). Although the enemies still controlled some of the promised land, God counted the land as belonging to His dear people. All the Israelites had to do was lay claim to the land, and God would give it to them. He would continue to give them victory over all the enemies, continue to empower His people to conquer all who opposed them and sought to defeat and destroy them.

4) God will give His people more of the promised land (v.5). This is a clear picture of the victorious life that God gives to the believer as he conquers the enemies of this life, the enemies that try to defeat and destroy him, even the last enemy, which is death. God will give the believer power to conquer all enemies just as He gave the Israelites the power to conquer their enemies.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword.… Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (, ).

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” ().

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” ().

“But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” ().

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God” ().

“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son” ().

“Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us” ().

b. The leaders were charged to hear the admonition of Joshua (vv.6–8). The torch of leadership was being passed to these men who sat before Joshua. The mantle of leadership was being laid upon their shoulders. Soon Joshua would be gone, passed on to live with the LORD. What kind of leaders would these men be? What kind of relationship were they to have with the LORD? What was their duty before the LORD?

1) The leaders were to be courageous, strong, careful to obey God’s Word. They were to keep all His commandments, every commandment that had been written in the Book of the Law (v.6). This was the very same charge that had been given to Joshua at the beginning of this great book (1:7). The leaders were to obey all God’s law. They were not to turn away from God’s Word, neither to the right nor to the left. God had given His Word to His people to guide them throughout life, so that they would know how to live, what to do and what not to do. God’s Word was the greatest provision He had given to His dear people. By writing down the commandments of God, the Word of God was permanently recorded. The Word of God was always available to His people, available to show them how life was to be lived in order to experience it fully.

This was what the Book of the Law, the Word of God, meant to the dear people of God, the Israelites. Because of this, the leaders who were soon to replace Joshua must be courageous, strong, careful to obey God’s Word. They must—absolutely must—keep all His commandments.

2) The leaders must live lives of strict separation. They must not associate with the immoral, unrighteous, and worldly neighbors who surrounded them (vv.7–8). God had chosen the Israelites to be His witnesses upon this earth. By life and testimony, they were to bear witness to the LORD: that He is the only living and true God, that He is holy, righteous and pure. Therefore, He demands that people live holy, righteous, and pure lives.

If the Israelites associated with their neighbors, intermingled with them, their neighbors would influence them, eventually leading them astray. By associating with the worldly, their friendship would eventually lead the Israelites to participate in the fellowships and false worship of their neighbors. The Israelites would become entangled in their false worship and idolatry, forsaking and turning away from the LORD.

Joshua strongly charges the leaders: they must never become involved with the false worship and false gods of their surrounding neighbors. Note how forcefully Joshua stressed this …

• they must not invoke the names of false gods

• they must not swear by false gods

• they must not serve false gods

• they must not bow down to false gods

This is a forceful warning to the leaders of God’s people: they absolutely must not participate in false worship. On the contrary, the leaders of God’s people must cleave, hold fast to the LORD.

Thought 1. There are four strong lessons for us in this admonition by Joshua.

(1) We must be courageous, strong, careful to obey God. We must keep all His Word, all His commandments.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” ().

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” ().

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love” ().

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” ().

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” ().

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” ().

“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” ().

“Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever” ().

“Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee” ().

“This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul” ().

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” ().

(2) We must be courageous, strong, careful to live lives of strict separation. We must not fellowship and intermingle with the immoral, unrighteous, and worldly of this world. This is the strong proclamation of Scripture:

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares” ().

“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation” ().

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” ().

“But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat” ().

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” ().

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” ().

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” ().

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” ().

“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” ().

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” ().

“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment” ().

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” ().

“Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God” ().

“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men” ().

“Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them” ().

“Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD” ().

(3) We must be courageous, strong, and careful, never to become involved with false worship or false gods. We must have nothing whatsoever to do with idolatry.

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone” ().

“For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect” ().

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” ().

“Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led” ().

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” ().

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience” ().

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” ().

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” ().

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” ().

“For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens” ().

“Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made” ().

(4) We must be courageous, strong, careful to cleave or hold fast to the LORD.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” ().

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” ().

“Only let your conversation [conduct, behavior] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Ph. 1:27).

“But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end” ().

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession” ().

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised” ().

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” ().

“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness” ().

“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee” ().

3 (23:9–13) Love, Duty—Warning, of Judgment—Judgment, Warning of—Backsliding, Warning Against—Worldliness, Warning Against—Israel, Warnings to—Warnings, to Israel: the leaders were charged to love the LORD. Not only were the leaders to obey the LORD, they were to love Him. People can obey and follow the instructions of those in authority—whether managers, supervisors, teachers, judges, or commanders in the military—without loving them. But this is not to be true with the LORD. The leaders of Israel were to obey the LORD and also to love Him. A sense of devotion, commitment, loyalty, caring, warmth and affection for the LORD was to fill their hearts. Note the Scripture and outline:

OUTLINE

SCRIPTURE

3. The charge to love the LORD

a. Remember the blessings of God

1) He has given you total & complete victory: Over powerful enemies

9 For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.

2) He has given you miraculous power to defeat the enemy: Through His power

10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

b. Hear the admonition: Love the LORD

11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.

c. Heed the warning: Judgment

1) The cause for judgment

• Turning away—backsliding—apostasy

• Worldliness: Fellowshipping, intermarrying with the worldly

12 Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:

2) The judgment: What is sown will be reaped

• The worldly enemy will cling, remain: Be a snare or trap

• The ultimate judgment: Will be led into captivity—perish from the land

a. Joshua charged the leaders to remember the blessings of God (vv.9–10). He had given the Israelites total and complete victory over powerful enemies. He had given them miraculous power to defeat the enemy. Note the mighty power given to the LORD’s people: each one of them had been empowered to route a thousand—all because the LORD Himself fought for His people, just as He had promised.

Marten H. Woudstra gives an excellent statement on this verse:

Love for God is an exclusive thing; it is a conscious devotion to him, based on what he has done for Israel. It has for its corollary the hating of evil. This love is enjoined here again upon Israel. The words translated take good care therefore read [literally] “take care for your very souls” (cf. ).… The Israelites are to love for their life’s sake.

Thought 1. This is a clear picture of the enormous power God gives to us as we combat the enemies of this world. Since Joshua was soon to die, one of his major concerns was that the leadership of Israel never forget this fact: God would give them power, mighty power, to defeat any enemy that attacked them. This is one of the great promises of God to us. No matter who the enemy is, God will give us power to conquer and overcome, even such enemies as …

• some person who holds anger, bitterness, or hatred against us

• some person who ridicules or persecutes us

• some lustful passion or sinful desire

• some greed or covetousness

• some financial loss or bankruptcy

• some terrible trial or temptation

No matter who or what the enemy is, God will empower us, give us the strength to conquer and overcome the enemy. This is the clear promise of His Holy Word.

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” ().

“For with God nothing shall be impossible” ().

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” ().

“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all” ().

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen” ().

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” ().

“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” ().

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” ().

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” ().

“Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” ().

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” ().

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” ().

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” ().

b. Joshua charged the leaders to love the LORD (v.11; see ; ; ). Just what did Joshua mean by loving God? He spelled out exactly what he meant in his admonition to the tribes of East Jordan (see outline and note— for more discussion). Loving the LORD means to walk in all His ways, to obey all His commandments, to cling or hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all one’s heart and soul (22:5).

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” ().

“And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ” ().

“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” ().

“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” ().

“And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul” ().

“O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer” ().

c. Joshua charged the leaders to heed the warning of God’s judgment if they failed to love the LORD (vv.12–13). Turning away, backsliding, apostasy—this was the great concern of Joshua for the leaders as they picked up the torch of leadership for God’s people. If this happened, then the possibility of intermarriage with the worldly would take place. And this was strictly forbidden by God (see outline and note, pt.2— for more discussion. Also see ; ; ; , ; ). God’s people were not to become entangled with their worldly neighbors lest they become influenced by them. They were to live lives of spiritual separation, lives that were totally set apart to God. If they disobeyed God and became entangled with the world, the judgment of God would fall upon them. And note what the judgment would be: they would reap exactly what they had sown (v.13). If they desired to associate with and cling to the world with its bright lights, pleasures, covetousness, and immoral ways, they would receive just what they wanted: the lifestyle of their neighbors. And their worldly neighbors would cling to them. The immoral and wicked neighbors would become snares and traps capturing them to use as they wished, just as a man snares and traps an animal (see ; ; ). Moreover, the worldly of this world would become whips on the backs of Israel and thorns in their eyes, enslaving them and destroying all their eyes had seen and hoped for. And then God’s ultimate judgment would fall upon the Israelites: they would lose the promised land. They would be led into captivity by the ungodly of this world and perish from the promised land (v.13).

Thought 1. God’s warning is clear: if we turn away from Him—backslide, commit apostasy—then God will give us up to our passions, lusts, and desires. He will let us do what we crave. This is what is known as the reciprocal judgment of God. We reap what we sow. This is also known as the judicial judgment of God. That is, God’s judgment is a just judgment. We receive exactly what we deserve, no more and no less. The point is this: if we turn to the world, craving after the bright lights and pleasures, the immoral and covetous ways of the world, the judgment of God will fall upon us. This is the strong warning of Holy Scripture:

“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again” ().

“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” ().

“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” ().

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” ().

“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet” ().

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” ().

“But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds” ().

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” ().

“And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” ().

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen” ().

4 (23:14–16) Warning, of Judgment—Judgment, Warning Against—Judgment, Surety of: the leaders were warned to heed the judgment of God. Note, this particular point was the final exhortation Joshua would ever proclaim to the leaders. He reminded them that he was soon to die (v.14). Since these are his final words to the leaders, it is important to note exactly what he said:

OUTLINE

SCRIPTURE

4. The warning to heed the judgment of God

a. Remember this most wonderful blessing of God

1) He has fulfilled all His “good” promises

2) Not a single promise has ever failed

b. Heed the warning: The surety of God’s judgment

1) Just as surely as God fulfilled His promises, so He will bring disaster & destroy you: A picture of spiritual captivity & death

2) Just as surely as you break the covenant or commandments of God & engage in false worship, you will perish: A picture of spiritual captivity & death

a. The leaders must remember one particular blessing of God, the most wonderful blessing of all: the complete fulfillment of all God’s promises. Not a single promise of God’s has ever failed. He has completely fulfilled every single one. God is faithful to His dear people, doing exactly what He has promised.

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” ().

“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” ().

“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” ().

“But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil” ().

“If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself” ().

“Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people” ().

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised” ().

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” ().

“And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life” ().

“Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations” ().

“Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant” ().

b. The leaders must heed the warning, the surety of God’s judgment (vv.15–16). God’s judgment is certain. Nothing will stop it from falling upon those who turn away from God, who commit apostasy. Note how sure, inevitable Joshua says the judgment of God is:

⇒ Just as surely as God fulfills His promises, so He will bring disaster and destruction to the disobedient (v.15).

⇒ Just as surely as a person breaks the covenant or commandments of God and engages in false worship, he will perish (v.16).

As Scripture says, the LORD’s anger will burn against the disobedient, those who break God’s commandments. He will judge any who turn away from Him and engage in false worship. And they will quickly perish from the promised land.

Thought 1. The surety of judgment—this was the final exhortation Joshua ever gave to the leaders of Israel. Judgment was the final subject he chose to preach to the leaders.

The surety of God’s judgment is proclaimed throughout Scripture. God will judge the world, judge all who turn away from Him and live worldly, immoral, covetous, unjust, lawless, and violent lives. Any person who does not honor God by believing Him and following after Him will face the eternal judgment of God. The judgment of God is sure and certain. It is inevitable.

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” ().

“And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city” ().

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” ().

“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” ().

“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished” ().

“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” ().

“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him” ().

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