Serve the Lord!

It’s a New Year…so what!

(https://www.history.com/news/the-

“According to recent research, while as many as 45 percent of Americans say they usually make New Year’s resolutions, only 8 percent are successful in achieving their goals.” But this shouldn’t discourage us from having the mindset to evaluate our life and consider in what things God wants us to grow up or change. The last chapter of Joshua stirs up a similar circumstance of marking the end of one period and moving into another. For Joshua, it is the end of acquiring the Promised Land and the beginning of living in it. Joshua’s words apply to the marking of this New Year with a renewed commitment to serve the Lord. May we, too, see the call to a renewed relationship serving the Lord.

Joshua 24:14–28 ESV

14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” 16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods, 17 for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.” 19 But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” 21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.” 22 Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” 23 He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel.” 24 And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.” 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem. 26 And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. 27 And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.” 28 So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.

A History Lesson

God’s message to the people settling in the land is to recognize their history and God’s covenant faithfulness. He reminds them that they did not start as a God-fearing for Abraham descended from a line of people who served other gods. The phrase “beyond the River” repeatedly occurs in the text as a general description of a life that is lived devoted to other gods. Abraham, by faith, came to follow the One True God from “beyond the River” to come to a new reality and promise. God kept this promise to the sons of Abraham. Even when they became enslaved in Egypt, God heard their cries for help and sent Moses and Aaron to lead them out. God defeated those who would oppose them. God preserved them. And now, the people of Joshua’s time are a part of God’s faithful story. But the most crucial thing of this history lesson is to recognize that God alone is the one who accomplished their preservation and fulfilled his promise. Any blessing, victory, or good event was not a result of luck or their own doing. Their blessing was a divine gift from a faithful God.

A Clear Option

The history lesson is intended to bring the people to the point of commitment and determination. The question is, “Who will they serve?” We often use the term “serve” to describe the Christian life. What does it mean to “serve the Lord?”

Serving the Lord implies the following:

to regard, respect, and revere

express worship, devotion, and obedience

Serving is closely related to worship and is sometimes used interchangeably. Serving or worshipping involves the whole person, the inner and outer aspects of our humanity.

Joshua describes two ways that they are to connect with serving the Lord. The first is to unite fear in serving. Fearing God does not simply imply that one is terrified, although a bit of terror is somewhat healthy. Fear is the natural response to recognizing our sin and God’s holiness. (Genesis 3:10) But the fear of the Lord emphasizes reverential awe that connects it to the other senses of fear so that a person properly recognizes the greatness of God.

The second thing to connect to serving is putting away the things that are worshipped other than God. Their forefathers may have started as serving other gods, but Abraham believed God and forsook the gods Beyond the River. Therefore, in order to serve God, they could not go back to that life.

Joshua’s message sounds a lot like the lyrics of Bob Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody”. The song's chorus states that we will inevitably serve somebody in life, it may be the Devil, or it may be the Lord. We will express that devotion and commitment to someone. But today, many may not see it as simply as the song states. They may claim a third option. "I serve nobody. I live for myself." But scripture reminds us that this way of thinking is the same sin for which God cast down Satan. It is the sin of pride. "I will ascend to the place of God." I will determine my own reality of truth in life. Ultimately when we only serve ourselves, we do not serve God. So there remain two ways to live: serving God or not. It is this choice that all people must inevitably make, and avoiding it altogether is the same as not choosing God. This is the choice that Joshua made and gave to the people.

A Clear Challenge

Joshua brings up a potential objection someone might have with serving God. It may seem evil to serve the Lord. We may find it difficult to understand why someone may think that serving God is an evil thing. But the sad truth is that some people do not see things as those who follow God. Some choose to reject any notion of God, and the result is that their hearts become darkened to the truth of God. And so, they may conclude that serving God is evil or a wasted effort. Romans 1:21-23

Romans 1:21–23 ESV

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

But have you heard this objection to Christianity? “Religion is the source of most wars in the world.” While it is true that some wars have occurred over religious differences, it is also true that tremendous loss of life has occurred over ideologies such as Marxism and Socialism. But the root of wars is not simply religion or ideology but a sinful heart. Matthew 15:19

Matthew 15:19 ESV

19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

And only God provides the solution to the root of our problem, which is sin. The Gospel is God’s solution for our sinful heart to be regenerated through work of Jesus Christ.

The Problem with Spirituality

Joshua receives the words of commitment to God from the people in a way that we may consider unusual. He declares that they are not able to serve the Lord. It seems that Joshua is indifferent, but that is not the case. He knew the people well and wanted to point out their false assumptions about God.

The danger is that they fail to reckon fully with Yahweh’s unique character compared to the gods they have known. His audience viewed the latter as so easy to please that they could serve several of them at the same time. They would, thus assume they could easily get along with Yahweh in a mutual back-scratching relationship. They protect Yahweh and he protects them. Rhetorically, Joshua’s reply underscores that two unique character traits of Yahweh--his holiness and his jealousy --make serving him all-demanding.

R.L. Hubbard - Joshua NIV Application Commentary

Polytheism may be part of the surrounding nations and even of the forefathers Beyond the River, but it is not an option in serving the Lord. God alone must be served. Any other mixture is not serving the Lord. Today this truth is equally relevant. As modern people, we may be more sophisticated in our thinking concerning spiritual things. A popular position states, “I am not religious; I am a spiritual person.” This statement often comes from people who do not wish to identify with any organized church or religion because they do not fully trust them or have yet to decide what they believe. The “spiritual but not religious” category is the most appealing because you can pick and choose what you like, similar to going shopping. If I like it, I add it to my cart. If I don’t, then I leave it for someone else. Hearing this statement ought not to discourage us as believers because it means that someone is open to discussing spiritual concepts. But how would the words of Joshua relate to this idea of spiritual but not religious? The Bible clearly states that spirituality is never a neutral endeavor, nor is it in our prerogative to make it as we like. According to scripture, spirituality that is not focused on Jesus Christ is equal to the ways of the forefathers beyond the River. John 14:6

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

While this concept of “spiritual but not religious” appeals to many, it will never be serving the Lord.

Application

The words of Joshua are solemn words that we must receive or reject in our life. But as Christians, we too find it a challenge at times to serve the Lord with all fear, allegiance, and enthusiasm that Joshua had. We may have moments of great commitment and faith and then experience a fall into temptation, doubt, or discouragement. Our walk with God may seem like a failed attempt more than a consistent move toward God. We may find the words of Joshua more of a reminder of our failure than an encouragement to continue in following God. But we must remember that we are in the New Covenant, which is based not upon our “goodness” but rather on the righteousness of Christ. It is because of God’s Grace in the New Covenant that allows us to renew our commitment to serving God when we wander. The Father is patiently waiting for prodigal children to come back home. And when we humbly repent, God rejoices. Our failure at faithful commitment is never reason for us to stop coming back to God. God has provided for us an amazing solution to our wandering and failure. Hebrews 4:14-16

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.

When we think about our tendency to diminish in commitment or to stray from allegiance to God, we can look to the cross of Christ for the reminder of God’s grace and the call to follow Him.