Sermon Tone Analysis

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.