Priorities for the Future Joshua 23

Intro:

FAMOUS LAST WORDS have become something of an institution, aided by a variety of Internet sites.

There is something peculiarly absorbing about people’s final words.

They may be disparaging, as in the case of Karl Marx, who is said to have told his housekeeper, sitting at his bedside, eager to record his last pearls for posterity, “Last words are for fools who haven’t said enough.”

The last words, or farewell speeches, of the Bible have much more serious content and far deeper significance.

One has only to think of the final speeches of Jacob, Moses, or David for the point to be clear, and indeed John devotes chapters 13–17 of his Gospel to the last words of the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed.

As we continue our farewell tour through the end of the book of Joshua we see Joshua gather the leaders in Chap 23 and all the people in Chap 24

There is still much work to be done and he wants the people to have priorities for the future

Read Joshua 23:1-6

vs. 1-3 Passing the Baton

The chapter starts with: “After a long time”

We have no idea how long this is

We shall learn that Joshua died at the age of 110 (24:29).

Assuming that he and Caleb were of similar age, we are probably looking at twenty to thirty years now since Israel first set foot in the land and set up the twelve memorial stones at Gilgal.

We also need to ask after what?

The most obvious reference might seem to be to the exit of Reuben, Gad, and eastern Manasseh in chapter 22, but the fact that the Lord had given rest and also that Joshua was “old and well advanced in years” has a more natural link back to 13:1 (where the same phrase was first used) and so to the whole episode of the distribution of the land.

Far more important than the dating is the rest of vs. 1

Having given the land, the Lord has also given them rest

Joshua is concerned on how that rest will be used and what fruit will come from it

This is the focus of the his last words to the leadership

The dangers associated with peace can be harder and more challenging than those in battle

He wants to pass the baton to reliable leaders

These are his final words and he wants to make a mark

vs. 3-8 Challenges that Remain

vs. 3 Remember what the Lord has done

The most important step in going forward is to remember what the Lord has done in the past

No one has a bigger testimony in the history of man than the Israelites

They saw the plagues, red sea parted, food provided daily, clothes and shoes lasting 40 years

Most importantly is that he did what he promised… he brought them into the promised land

God fought for them

That means whatever God says going forward they can trust

vs. 4-6 Push them Back

Next, they need to push the nations back

Actually, God is going to push them back but they need to go

It’s easy to get complacent when you have been given rest

They are living off of their inheritance

They are living in homes they didn’t build

There are still nations that are inhabiting the land and God will remove them but they gotta go do it

Joshua tells them to be strong and obey the law

Don’t turn to the left or to the right

vs. 7-8 Do not Mix w/ Nations

This is to prevent them from mixing with the nations

Joshua knows their nature and how easily they are led astray

Mixing will lead to worshipping their gods

It will lead them to intermarrying and some tribes being lost forever

Joshua tells them to cling to the Lord

That term cling means to hold on for dear life

vs. 9-13 Abide & Be Blessed

vs. 14-16 God's Faithfulness Goes Both Ways