Joshua 24:29-33 | "The Servant of the LORD" [Communion Service]

I. Reading of Scripture

Joshua 24:29–33 ESV

29 After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being 110 years old. 30 And they buried him in his own inheritance at Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash. 31 Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the Lord did for Israel. 32 As for the bones of Joseph, which the people of Israel brought up from Egypt, they buried them at Shechem, in the piece of land that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money. It became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph. 33 And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim.

This is God’s Word, Amen!

Pray

II. Introduction

A. Introduction to Theme

I’ve chosen as the title for this sermon, the same title the Scriptures give to Joshua at the end of this book that bears his name:

“The servant of the Lord.”

“The servant of the Lord.” This title represents one of the highest praises a follower of God may receive. To look back upon one’s life and hear those words spoken in

Matthew 25:23 (ESV)

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

We can earn many titles in life, but only one represents true greatness.

Jesus said:

Luke 22:26–27 ESV

26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

If we want to be like Jesus, we will endeavor to become a servant of Jesus.

How do we do that?

Becoming a servant is not something that is earned. It is something that is learned.

It is something one generation may pass on to another through a process of instruction but also through being an example.

Joshua teaches us this. When the book of Joshua began, Joshua was not the servant of the LORD — Moses was.

Joshua 1:1 ESV

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant,

This book began with Joshua being known, not as the servant of the Lord, but as as the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant.

And as Moses’ assistant, Joshua learned what it meant to be a servant of the Lord.

When Moses rose to go up into the mountain of God, to receive the tables of stone with the law and the commandment for instruction, Joshua was with him. (Ex 24:13).

When the LORD spoke with Moses face to face, Joshua was with him (Ex 33:11).

Joshua was with Moses from his youth (Num 11:28)!

And in growing up as Moses’ assistant, Joshua learned through the proximity and access he had to Moses’ life, and the example that was set for him in Moses, and through the experiences of God’s grace he witnessed over the years — Joshua did not earn but he learned what it meant to be the LORD’s servant.

When the time came for Moses to die, the LORD could have chosen anyone else to lead Israel in to the land of promise. But the LORD did not choose someone else, for the Scriptures tell us it was to Joshua that the voice of the LORD came, to stand in Moses’ place as the LORD’s servant before a new generation.

B. Introduction to Text

But just as Moses died, Joshua too dies.

This text invites us all to his funeral, and not just Joshua’s funeral but two others. There are three funerals in this text to close the book of Joshua.

Three funerals to mark the end of an era. Three lives that represent God’s purposes for his people. Three periods to mark the completion of sentences in the story of God through these men.

Three deaths are proclaimed.

And these funerals might seem to us to be an after-thought, they were important enough for God to preserve in His word, so they are worth our time.

Because while these funerals represent the end of three earthy lives, they do not represent the end of God’s eternal story.

III. Exposition

A. Joshua | 24:29-31

Illustration: We all have been to funerals. At the front lies either a body, or some token of remembrance of that person’s life — it is something visual, to capture the lifetime in a moment.

Here representing the life of Joshua before us, is this large Bible: God’s Word.

As we begin this funeral service, let us begin by hearing a reading of Joshua’s obituary.

An obituary is a notice of death and it often includes a brief summary of that person’s life.

Joshua 24:29–30 ESV

29 After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being 110 years old. 30 And they buried him in his own inheritance at Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash.

This text begins with the phrase: “After these things.”

“After” — not “before.” This statement of timing reveals that Joshua did not die until the LORD was finished with him.

The LORD’s work was not finished, or else the Bible would end with the book of Joshua.

But the LORD’s work through Joshua’s life was finished. Joshua’s death is presented as a moment of completion. “After these things.”

Joshua 24:29 ESV

29 After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being 110 years old.

Notice that it took 24 chapters for Joshua to go from being known as Moses’ assistant (1:1) to being known as “the servant of the LORD” (24:29).

Yet here in this final summary, we are not given a highlight reel of Joshua’s life. All is summed up in this one phrase: “The servant of the LORD.”

One of the most important features of a book is the title. An author that wants people to read the details inside a book must work hard to interest the reader with an attractive and interesting title.

The title of our life will be one of two options: Were we “A Servant of Ourselves?” or were we “A Servant of the Lord”?

That summary makes all the difference!

Joshua was a “Servant of the LORD” and representing his life is this Bible: God’s Word.

A Bible is chosen because Joshua spoke the Word of God to the people.

When God first spoke to him, God said:

Joshua 1:8 ESV

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

And Joshua did so. We know this not because he published his Bible reading plan or his journal that we might check his daily readings.

We know this because he remained faithful to the Lord and “never compromised his worship of the Lord” (KM).

Even unto his last speech to the people he was repeating this theme:

Joshua 23:6 ESV

6 Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left,

Joshua did not memorize God’s Word. Joshua internalized God’s Word!

He did not get in to the Word. He let the Word get in to Him!

And the same instruction God gave to him in the beginning, he passed on to the people in the end.

Joshua meditated on God’s Word, obeyed God’s Word, lived God’s Word, and Joshua spoke the Word of God to the people with faith.

And Joshua’s earthly life is brought to completion as his body is buried in the land that was his own inheritance, to rest secure in God’s promise.

And the writer of this text adds one more comment to highlight the faithfulness of Joshua to God’s Word:

Joshua 24:31 ESV

31 Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the Lord did for Israel.

That statement “Israel served the LORD” occurs only here in the Old Testament (KM). It is found nowhere else. And this speaks highly of Joshua and his generation (KM).

Those who had experienced God’s mighty works for themselves served the Lord.

But personal experiences don’t last. Personal experiences fade one generation to another.

Just a couple pages turns later, we read in

Judges 2:11 ESV

11 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals.

It did not take long for the succeeding generation to turn from the Lord.

They failed to remember what Joshua taught them throughout his life. That faithfulness is not grounded in what we see, but in what we hear. — Live by God’s Word!

B. Joseph | 24:32

This text proclaims another death, the death of Joseph.

Here representing the life of Joseph before us, is this purple cloth, representing a King.

Joshua 24:32 ESV

32 As for the bones of Joseph, which the people of Israel brought up from Egypt, they buried them at Shechem, in the piece of land that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money. It became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph.

Joseph was one of Jacob’s sons and like Joshua, Joseph also lived 110 years.

Joseph did not die in the promised land. Joseph died in Egypt, where he was a kingly figure. A vice-regent, made so by the providence of God to provide in Egypt for the family of Israel during a famine.

But Joseph’s reign was not eternal, for the time came for him too, to die.

Genesis 50:25–26 ESV

25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

What God was doing in Joshua, bringing the people IN to the land of promise, was the completion of God bringing Israel OUT of Egypt.

God brought Israel IN to Egypt under Joseph, but God did not bring Israel IN to Egypt with the intent on leaving them there!

Egypt was just a part of God’s plan.

And Joseph believed in faith what Joshua realized — that God would bring Israel OUT of Egypt and IN to the land of promise.

And so it is with the eternal God. We may not experience in our lifetime the fruit of all God is beginning or working in us. But by faith we pass it on!

Like runners passing a baton, we know the finish line exists, and we will run with endurance the race set before us keeping our eyes on Jesus, knowing that in Him our running has a purpose.

Joseph wouldn’t see the promise in his lifetime, but by faith — for him it was as good as done.

For all these years, Joseph’s bones were carried around the wilderness, and now the Scriptures tell us that they are laid to rest IN God’s promise, as a testimony of faith and God’s faithfulness — a witness to the true King of all Kings.

C. Eleazar | 24:33

This text proclaims a third death, the death of Eleazar.

Here representing the life of Eleazar before us, is this large cup, which for us will represent a Priest.

Joshua 24:33 ESV

33 And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim.

Eleazar, being the son of Aaron, is a priest.

Priests were the mediators between God and man. The priests were charged with ministering God’s Word, teaching it, and carrying out the sacrificial rituals of worship.

Eleazar had an important role with Joshua in dividing the land as an inheritance for the people (Josh 14:1), and he is mentioned as being the “son of Aaron” to remind us that Aaron died in the wilderness outside the land, because of unbelief (KM), but even the unbelief of a generation did not stop God from fulfilling His promise.

For Aaron’s son, Eleazar, helped to divide that land, and now is buried in it, resting in God’s promise.

IV. Conclusion

These three deaths, these three funerals are important.

Funerals, after all, are never for the deceased person — but always for the benefit of those who remain, alive.

The book of Joshua has pointed us to the Triune God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — and with these three death we have a small-t trinity that anticipates the coming of Christ.

The book of Joshua concludes with three images that say something important about God — A Word, a King, a Priest.

And this message is not for these three who have died, but for us who are alive!

A. Gospel Proclamation

These three men anticipate a man who is to come that is greater than themselves.

Likewise, these three images represent something greater and eternal.

For the life of Joshua, we have The Bible — God’s Word. It is God’s Word where we learn how to be a servant of the Lord. God’s Word tells us how to live God’s Way, and how to know God and serve Him forever.

Joshua the man is a picture of Jesus — who is our Joshua. Our Savior.

Joshua spoke the Word of God to the people with faith. But Jesus IS the Word of God in the flesh.

John 1:1 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:12–13 ESV

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Joseph is a picture of Jesus.

Being a kingly figure, he pictures Christ to come — who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Isaiah says of Christ:

Isaiah 9:6 ESV

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Hebrews 1:8 ESV

8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

Joseph’s kingly reign was temporary. Jesus’s reign is eternal!

Eleazar is a picture of Jesus.

For Eleazar was a priest, the son of the first high priest.

But Jesus is our Great High Priest!

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus is Prophet, Priest and King!

And we see this with one last proclamation of death — the cross.

Philippians 2:6–8 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Behold, the Servant of the Lord!

And because of Christ’s death for us, we have one more death to proclaim.

All of these images sit on a table with this inscription: “Do this in Remembrance of Me.”

As we hear the book of Joshua, this is how God would have us hear it — in remembrance of Jesus.

Because all of Joshua, from beginning to end, points to Him.

And so we conclude this sermon and this preaching series, proclaiming one more death — not the death of Joshua, Joseph or Eleazar, but the death of Jesus by celebrating the Lord’s Supper.