Joshua 24 Renewing the Covenant

Intro:

Read Joshua 24:1-5

I. Joshua’s History Lesson vs. 1-13

You have to try to understand why someone gives a history overview

It’s impossible to hit every detail

They are sharing the lesson to make a specific point

What is Joshua’s point in this history lesson?

He wants them to renew their covenant w/ God

There are four identifiable covenant renewal ceremonies in the biblical text, and each represents not only a reaffirmation of the stipulations of the covenant but also the inauguration of a new phase in Israelite history

Joshua’s actions at Shechem place a final stamp on the past (the exodus and conquest) and signal a future in which the people will settle in the Promised Land

Verse 1 tells us that Joshua “gathered all the tribes of Israel” (“all the people,” v. 2), but not to himself.

As always throughout the book, he is Yahweh’s agent first and foremost, since all his leadership has been given to him by the Lord

They are not just coming to hear Joshua. “They presented themselves before God

Shechem is modern Tel Balata. “This ancient city was situated on the floor of a valley near its entrance, Mount Gerazim and Mount Ebal forming the respective walls. The contour of the land resulted in a natural amphitheater, the acoustics of which were so good that the human voice carried to exceptional distances.”

Located thirty-five miles north of Jerusalem in the Ephraimite hill country, and dominated a pass and trade route between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim

Shechem was the ideal location for this moving farewell address by Israel’s great leader.

It was at Shechem that God promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land (Gen. 12:6–7), and there Jacob built an altar (33:20).

Shechem was located between Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim, where the people of Israel had reaffirmed their commitment to the Lord (Josh. 8:30–35).

Shechem was indeed “holy ground” to the Israelites

As the nation gathers at Shechem, we are prompted to recognize that the wheel has turned full circle, that the promises have been fulfilled.

The great nation God had promised to Abram now gathers to meet him, at the very place in the land where he first promised that the land would be theirs—and now it is!

Vs. 2-5

The original home of the ancestors was in Mesopotamia, a land with polytheistic religious traditions

land beyond the river. This designation is a technical term applied to the region west of the Euphrates River

Abraham can from a family of idol worshippers

Legend has it that Abraham’s father was an idol maker

This also shows us that God chose and pursued Abraham, not the other way around

He plucked Abraham out of Ur and brought him to Canaan

“The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, reminding the Jews that their national identity was an act of God’s grace.

God promised a great nation would come out of him.

Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Issac

God rejected Ishmael and chose Isaac

Out of Isaac came Esau and Jacob and God chose Jacob

Vs. 6-10 Journey from Egypt to Promised Land

Joshua describes 3 victories God gives Israel

The first is over the Egyptians

Put a cloud of darkness between them

Then over the Amorites

They took possession of their land

Finally, over Balaam and the Moabites

Balaam tried to curse Israel but God turned it into a blessing

Each theme was that God delivered them

Vs. 11-13 Entering the Promised Land

God then gives all of the Canaanite armies into their hand

He sent the hornet before them

Hornet: The exact meaning of the word translated “hornet” is uncertain. The Septuagint (the oldest Greek translation of the Old Testament) reads “hornet” or “wasp,” and many commentators accept this as a symbol of divine intervention, which helped prepare the way for the Israelite conquest

This could’ve been symbolized by the hailstones

Notably missing from this review of Israel’s history is any mention of Israel’s sin, rebellion, and failure.

Though God recorded those things at their time (in Exodus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), when He reviewed their history through Joshua He made no mention.

Later, God said their sin I will remember no more(Jeremiah 31:34). Here, it was as if He had “forgotten” Israel’s past sin.

This land was a gift to Israel

They didn’t do anything to make it theirs

Not with your sword or bow. I have given you a land for which you did not labor… vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant:

There is a sense in which every blessing is undeserved, but some are more obviously so.

When Israel enjoyed vineyards and olive orchards in Canaan, it should have made them especially grateful for undeserved blessings.

They should also have remembered that those who planted the vineyards and orchards were removed by God’s righteous judgment, and if they disobeyed and rejected God, they might also be so judged.

II. Chose Whom You Will Serve vs. 14-28

vs. 14-15 Put away the gods

After the history lesson Joshua gives Israel a choice

Chose whom you will serve

Fear the Lord and Serve him

One of the key words in this section is serve, used fifteen times.

To serve God means to fear Him, obey Him, and worship only Him.

It means to love Him and fix your heart upon Him, obeying Him because you want to and not because you have to

He also tells them to put away the gods that your father served

It appears that some Israelites served other gods in Egypt and their children were carrying that on

Joshua tells them to get rid of them

Then he says “If there is evil in your eyes”

That meant the Israelites weren’t to serve out of obligation or spite

The evil represents a hear that is somewhere else

The eyes are a window to the soul

ThenJoshua utters the most famous words of the whole book

The words many people have on a plaque in their house

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord

Chose whom you will serve

vs. 16-18 We will not serve other gods

The Israelites affirmed that they would not forsake the Lord by serving other gods

The recognize that it was the Lord that brought them out of Egypt and out of slavery

They are taking the first step to renew the covenant by forsaking other gods

vs. 19-28 We will serve the Lord

Joshua tells them

III. Joshua’s Death vs. 29-33

vs. 29-30 Joshua lived to 110 years old

vs. 31 Served the Lord

vs. 32 Bones of Joseph buried in Shechem

vs. 33 Eleazar dies