A NEW PHASE Of LIFE—Joshua 24:14-28
Attention:
Graduates of High School & Community College
Need:
If you work without serving God, then you’ve chosen your god & your god is you!
Joshua recognized a major benchmark in Israel’s progress toward inheriting the Promised Land.
Our graduates have reached a benchmark acknowledging their past accomplishments & thereby initiating their significant work yet to be accomplished.
Our graduates are beginning a new phase of life.
How do we enter/begin a new phase of life.
4 requirements/determinations for a new phase of life.
If you are going to possess the ‘land’ God wants you to have, you must...
1—A New Phase of life requires your...
DECISION(:14-16)
Explanation: (:14-16) Choice
:14—“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity & in truth, & put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River & in Egypt. Serve the LORD!”
Joshua had just reviewed God’s history of provision, protection, guidance, etc. for Israel(24:2-13).
The intention/invitation logical conclusion drawn from their experience with YaHWeH follows in 24:14-28.
As a result of God’s grace/care, those who have been the direct recipients of it are obligated to both “fear” Him “serve” Him.
This fear & service directed toward God by His people is to be expressed in a character of “sincerity” & “truth”.
The practical outworking of their “fear & service” is in divorcing/‘putting away’ themselves from the gods served by their fathers, namely those gods of Terah, Abraham & Nahor beyond the River Euphrates, & later the Egyptian gods. The children of Israel served false gods in Egypt. Was this done in ignorance bowing to cultural dictates, mandates & pressures OR openly & willingly bowing to & aiding in the cultural climate? OR was it done coercively being forced upon them?
“Fear”—ary yaw-ray’—1) To fear, revere, be afraid; 2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour. Strong—a primitive root; To fear; morally, To revere; caus. To frighten:-- Affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear(-ful, --fully, --ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), X see, terrible (act, --ness, thing).
“the LORD”(thruout)—hwhy yeh-ho-vaw’—Strong— (The) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:-- Jehovah, the Lord.
“Serve”(thruout)—dbe aw-bad’—1) To work, serve. Strong—a primitive root; To work (in any sense); by implication, To serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:-- X be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, + husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress [from margin], (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper.
“Sincerity”—Mymt taw-meem’—1) Complete, whole, entire, sound—1a) Complete, whole, entire, 1b) Whole, sound, healthful, 1c) Complete, entire (of time), 1d) Sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity, 1e) What is complete or entirely in accord with truth & fact (neuter adj/subst). Strong—Entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) Integrity, truth:-- Without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright(-ly), whole.
“Truth”—tma ’eh’-meth—1) Firmness, faithfulness, truth—1a) Sureness, reliability, 1b) Stability, continuance, 1c) Faithfulness, reliableness, 1d) Truth—1d1) As spoken, 1d2) Of testimony & judgment, 1d3) Of divine instruction, 1d4) Truth as a body of ethical or religious knowledge, 1d5) True doctrine. Strong—Stability; (figuratively) Certainty, truth, trustworthiness:-- Assured(-ly), establishment, faithful, right, sure, true (-ly, -th), verity.
*NIV has “with all faithfulness” combining “sincerity & truth”(Lit.) as an idiomatic statement.
“Put away/Throw away”(See :23)—rwo soor—1) To turn aside, depart—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To turn aside, turn in unto, 1a2) To depart, depart from way, avoid, 1a3) To be removed, 1a4) To come to an end, 1b) (Polel) To turn aside, 1c) (Hiphil)—1c1) To cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose, 1c2) To put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish, 1d) (Hophal) To be taken away, be removed. Strong—a primitive root; To turn off (literal or figurative).
:15—“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me & my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua laid out a choice before the people.
He gave them room to decide individually whether they would serve God or not.
If the people found it “disagreeable” to serve this YaHWeH of Grace then they were given freedom to decide whom they would serve. However, they were given an ultimatum to decide now. If they had had difficulty in their decision, Joshua’s reiteration of God’s goodness & grace should have been enough to convince them. The people had a choice of serving the true & living God of grace OR the gods beyond the River OR the gods of the Amorites whom they had just conquered.
Sihon was king of the Amorites who dwelt in the city of Heshbon(east of the Jordan). He was powerful enough to have conquered & extended his control over the kingdom of Moabites to the south. They obviously lived in the mountains to the west of the Jordan as well(Canaanites). However, God had used Israel to conquer the Amorites & they now stood poised to keep their enemy’s land as their own.
Joshua was quick to state his personal choice.
Joshua was the leader of his household.
Joshua & those of his house would serve YaHWeH.
He made decisions which effected his entire household no matter how large or small.
“Evil/Disagreeable/Undesirable”(See :20)—eer raw-ah’—1) To be bad, be evil—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To be displeasing, 1a2) To be sad, 1a3) To be injurious, be evil, 1a4) To be wicked, be evil (ethically); 1b) (Hiphil)—1b1) To do an injury or hurt, 1b2) To do evil or wickedly, 1b3) Mischief (participle); 2) To break, shatter—2a) (Qal)—2a1) To break, 2a2) Broken (participle), 2a3) To be broken--2b) (Hithpolel) To be broken, be broken in pieces, be broken asunder.
“Choose”(See :22)—rxb baw-khar’—1) To choose, elect, decide for. Strong—properly, To try, i.e. (by implication) Select:-- Acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require.
:16—“So the people answered & said: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;””
The people responded positively to Joshua’s invitation & charge.
They made it plain that they would not forsake YaHWeH to serve other gods for very practical reasons.
“Far be it from us/God forbid”—hlylx khaw-lee’-law —1) Far be it (from me), God forbid that, let it not be. Strong—literal for a profaned thing; used (interj.) Far be it!:-- Be far, (X God) forbid.
“Forsake”(See :20)—bze aw-zab’—1) To leave, loose, forsake; 2) To restore, repair. Strong— a primitive root; To loosen, i.e. Relinquish, permit, etc.:-- Commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, X surely.
?What DECISION(s) is(are) required for you to enter a New Phase of Life & live God’s way?
Argumentation:
Ps. 81:8-13(of Asaph)—““Hear, O My people, & I will admonish you! O Israel, if you will listen to Me! There shall be no foreign god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god. I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, & I will fill it. “But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels. Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways!”
1Kgs. 18:17 -21—“Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you & your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD & have followed the Baals. Now therefore, send & gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred & fifty prophets of Baal, & the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, & gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. And Elijah came to all the people, & said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.”
Ezek. 20:39—““As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord GOD: “Go, serve every one of you his idols--& hereafter--if you will not obey me; but profane My holy name no more with your gifts & your idols.”
Rev. 3:14-16—““And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful & True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, & neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
Php. 1:9-11—“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more & more in knowledge & all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere & without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory & praise of God.”
Mat. 6:19-24—““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth & rust destroy & where thieves break in & steal; “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys & where thieves do not break in & steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one & love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one & despise the other. You cannot serve God & mammon.”
Illustration:
If you aim at nothing you will hit it every time!
Graduates face many life-focusing DECISIONS/What is my purpose...What has God called me to do?—How does this color my job or career choice?/What school will I continue my education? Do I need more formal education?/DECISION
Unfortunately many kids graduate to adulthood & leave the faith of their upbringing as if it were inconsequential/Their DECISIONs become based on emotion & feeling outside of God’s will—They have kids of their own & realize they have left the most vital part of life untouched—their relationship with God!
Wherever you go, find a Bible preaching-Teaching-Living Church which will help you grow in Christ!/You will then have no regrets & you will have great joy in whatever work you set your hand to!/DECISION
Application:
?You made the right DECISIONs regarding this New Phase of life?
?You ready for this New Phase of life?
2—A New Phase of life requires your...
SUBSTANTIATION(:17-21)
Explanation:(:17-21) Training/Recognition/Remembrance
:17—“for the LORD our God is He who brought us & our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who did those great signs in our sight, & preserved us in all the way that we went & among all the people through whom we passed.”
They assured Joshua of this because they recognized—very practically— that YaHWeH, who was their God had brought them & their fathers up from Egypt.
They remembered—very practically— that God had taken them out of bondage in Egypt.
They recalled—very practically—that YaHWeH had done “great signs” before them.
They reiterated —very practically— that YaHWeH had preserved them through their travels.
“Bondage”—dbe eh’-bed—1) Slave, servant.
“Signs”—twa ’owth—1) Sign, signal—1a) A distinguishing mark, 1b) Banner, 1c) Remembrance, 1d) Miraculous sign, 1e) Omen, 1f) Warning; 2) Token, ensign, standard, miracle, proof. Strong—A signal (literally or figuratively), As a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.:-- Mark, miracle, (en-)sign, token.
“Preserved”—rmv shaw-mar’—1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed. Strong—properly, To hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. Guard; generally, To protect, attend to, etc.:-- Beware, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
:18—“And the LORD drove out from before us all the people, including the Amorites who dwelt in the land. We also will serve the LORD, for He is our God.” “
They recalled—very practically— that YaHWeH had driven the peoples out of their land.
They recalled —very practically— that YaHWeH had driven out the Amorites in particular(obviously a very formidable opponent).
The people then declared, that they would serve YaHWeH & declared that He was indeed their God.
The Amorites were pagans unrelated to the Israelites. They were roughly situated on the east side of the Jordan between the upper half of the Salt Sea(Dead Sea) & the Sea of Chinnereth(Sea of Galilee)—between the Arnon R.(S.) & the Jabbok R.(N.). Amorites were recognized by Israel as residing in the mountains(Num. 13:29). Sihon was king of the Amorites in the city of Heshbon, at the time Israel arrived to enter the Promised Land. Israel defeated them by God’s hand thru Moses & Joshua.
Num. 13:29 states:—“The Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, & the Amorites dwell in the mountains; & the Canaanites dwell by the sea & along the banks of the Jordan.””
Num. 21:25-26, 30-31—“So Israel took all these cities, & Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon & in all its villages. For Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, & had taken all his land from his hand as far as the Arnon.”....““But we have shot at them; Heshbon has perished as far as Dibon. Then we laid waste as far as Nophah, Which reaches to Medeba.” Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.”
“Drove out”—vrg gaw-rash’—1) To drive out, expel, cast out, drive away, divorce, put away, thrust away, trouble, cast up. Strong—To drive out from a possession; especially To expatriate or divorce:-- Cast up (out), divorced (woman), drive away (forth, out), expel, X surely put away, trouble, thrust out.
:19—“But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.”
This verse cannot be taken without verse 20. :20 provides the context. Otherwise you will build a doctrine which completely contradicts the remainder of Scripture.
Following the response of the people, Joshua says something to them which seems, to me, a bit unusual for someone who had just encouraged them to make a choice. This cannot be a dis-couragement in the strict sense. But possibly it is intended to cement their word to their heart. To look deeply & accurately into their decision. Perhaps he is clarifying the commitment to the exclusivity required to serve YaHWeH. The decision to serve YaHWeH is not to be done in ignorance, shallowness, taken lightly or with a non-committal attitude.
Joshua told them that YaHWeH would forgive neither their transgression nor their sins.
‘The meaning is, God’s service is not, as you seem to fancy, a slight & easy thing, but it is a work of great difficulty, & requires great care, & courage & resolution’—Wesley
“Cannot”—lky yakol’—1) To prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To be able, be able to gain or accomplish, be able to endure, be able to reach, 1a2) To prevail, prevail over or against, overcome, be victor, 1a3) To have ability, have strength. Strong—a primitive root; To be able, literally (Can, could) or morally (May, might):-- Be able, any at all (ways), attain, can (away with, [-not]), could, endure, might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer.
“Holy”—vdq qadosh—1) Sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart. Strong—Sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), An angel, a saint, a sanctuary:-- Holy (One), saint.
“Jealous”—awnq qannow’—Jealous.
“Forgive”—asn naw-saw’—1) To lift, bear up, carry, take. Strong—a primitive root; To lift, in a great variety of applications, literal & figurative, absolute & relative.
“Transgressions”—evp peh’-shah—1) Transgression, rebellion. Strong—A revolt (national, moral or religious):-- Rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.
“Sins”— tajx khat-tawth’—1) Sin, sinful; 2) Sin, sin offering—2a) Sin, 2b) Condition of sin, guilt of sin, 2c) Punishment for sin, 2d) Sin-offering, 2e) Purification from sins of ceremonial uncleanness. Strong—An offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), & its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) An offender:-- Punishment (of sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering).
:20—“If you forsake the LORD & serve foreign gods, then He will turn & do you harm & consume you, after He has done you good.” “
Both verse 19 & 20 are intended to be taken together as they explain one another.
YaHWeH does indeed overlook & not forgive that one who “forsakes” Him. True forgiveness technically then comes with Christ’s sacrificial atonement—here in Israel’s future. Practically however, it is played out even prior to the cross in the heart of the believer. Is this statement looking to that future day when forgiveness is completed in Christ? The Sacrificial System of Israel’s temple worship is merely a temporary postponement/arrest & picture of God’s forgiveness until atonement & faith are fulfilled.
However faith is intended to be lived out, as evidenced in God-ordained Temple worship. The truly faithful to YaHWeH in heart would not desert Him in order to serve other gods.
*Israel’s lack of ability to serve God is bound up in the fact that God is holy & jealous(exclusive of any shade of rivalry). He will not tolerate bipartisan lipservice.(Mat. 6:19-24; 1Cor. 10:21; Lev. 20:26; Ex. 34:14; Ex. 23:20-21; Isa. 27:11).
*Until God’s people become holy themselves, they cannot be jealous for God’s Name/honor.
Therefore...Since the God you claim as yours is holy & jealous(exclusive), then the following may take place depending on one’s disregard for that holiness & its resulting jealousy...
“If” God’s chosen ones forsake Him in order to serve foreign(to YaHWeH & intentionally to Israel) gods, they will meet with consequences.
The consequences generally being God’s turning(from His people’s enemies) in order to bring harm to the very ones He has chosen—As a master treats a pet dog which has bitten his hand.
Those who turn 'on' rather than 'to' God—by following other gods—will themselves be “consumed” by God even though they have been the recipients of God’s special grace toward the nation.
*The past expression of God’s special grace is no assurance to those who rebel.
“Forsake”(See :16)—bze aw-zab’—1) To leave, loose, forsake; 2) To restore, repair. Strong— a primitive root; To loosen, i.e. Relinquish, permit, etc.:-- Commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, X surely.
“Foreign”—rkn nay-kawr’—1) Foreign, alien, foreignness, that which is foreign. Strong—Foreign, or (concretely) A foreigner, or (abstractly) Heathendom:-- Alien, strange (+ -er).
“Turn”—bwv shoob—1) To return, turn back.
“Do...Harm”“(See :15—“Evil/Disagreeable/Undesirable”)—eer raw-ah’—1) To be bad, be evil—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To be displeasing, 1a2) To be sad, 1a3) To be injurious, be evil, 1a4) To be wicked, be evil (ethically); 1b) (Hiphil)—1b1) To do an injury or hurt, 1b2) To do evil or wickedly, 1b3) Mischief (participle); 2) To break, shatter—2a) (Qal)—2a1) To break, 2a2) Broken (participle), 2a3) To be broken--2b) (Hithpolel) To be broken, be broken in pieces, be broken asunder.
“Consume”—hlk kaw-law’—1) To accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent. Strong—To end, whether intransitive (To cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (To complete, prepare, consume):-- Accomplish, cease, consume (away), determine, destroy (utterly), be (when . . were) done, (be an) end (of), expire, (cause to) fail, faint, finish, fulfill, X fully, X have, leave (off), long, bring to pass, wholly reap, make clean riddance, spend, quite take away, waste.
“Good”—bjy yaw-tab’—1) To be good, be pleasing, be well, be glad. Strong—a primitive root; To be (causative) Make well, literally (Sound, beautiful) or figuratively (Happy, successful, right).
:21—“And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the LORD!””
The people responded to Joshua’s statement. They said that Joshua was wrong in his assertion that they were incapable of serving YaHWeH. Instead the tribes, elders, heads, judges & officers declared that they would indeed “serve” YaHWeH.
Don’t short-change yourself before others. You have made the grade & that is not only commendable but useful in the real world.
Do you forget the past? No! You carry the training—what you have learned—with you.
?What type of SUBSTANTIATION is required for you to enter a New Phase of Life & live God’s way?
Argumentation:
Jud. 2:7, 10-11—“So the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, & all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD which He had done for Israel.”....“When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel. Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, & served the Baals;”
1Sam. 12:24—““Only fear the LORD, & serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.”
Ps. 126:3—“The LORD has done great things for us, And we are glad.”
Mk. 5:1-5, 9-10, —“Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; & no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles & chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, & the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night & day, he was in the mountains & in the tombs, crying out & cutting himself with stones.”....“Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”” Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.”.....“Then they came to Jesus, & saw the one who had been demon-possessed & had the legion, sitting & clothed & in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, & about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, & tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, & how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed & began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; & all marveled.”
Illustration:
High School & Community College work has indeed prepared you for your next step/The preparation is different for every one of you....but it is there nonetheless!/You will meet some professional or personal challenges of life which your school experiences have prepared you for... either in part or in whole/Coupled with your experience in Jesus you will discover that ‘The Lord is indeed Good!/SUBSTANTIATION
Open our pool in spring/Patio is discolored/Wet it down—added Dawn Detergent—Scrubbed with a garage broom/Worked perfectly!/SUBSTANTIATION
Gain vs. Wisk detergent/For months our clothes were smelling soured & unclean/Switched detergents—Wisk//Hands down, our clothes are cleaner & fresher smelling/SUBSTANTIATION
Application:
?You SUBSTANTIATED this New Phase of life?
?You ready for this New Phase of life?
3—A New Phase of life requires your...
Full COMMITMENT(:22-27)
Explanation: (:22-27) Application/Covenant
:22—“So Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD for yourselves, to serve Him.” And they said, “We are witnesses!” “
Joshua then responded to their verbal commitment.
He charged them that they themselves were “witnesses” of one another that they had corporately(& thus individually) willed themselves(“chosen”) to serve YaHWeH solely(:19-20).
The people declared openly that they took Joshua’s charge to heart by verbally & publicly declaring themselves as “witnesses.”
*People who claim to be Christians but are neither members of any local assembly of the body of Christ nor have undergone believer’s baptism must likewise seriously reckon with their lack of commitment.
Heb. 10:23-25—“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love & good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, & so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
“Witnesses”2X—de ayd—1)Witness—1a) Witness, testimony, evidence (of things), 1b) Witness (of people). Strong—concretely, A witness; abstractly, Testimony; specifically, A recorder, i.e. Prince:-- Witness.
“Chosen”(See :15)—rxb baw-khar’—1) To choose, elect, decide for. Strong—properly, To try, i.e. (by implication) Select:-- Acceptable, appoint, choose (choice), excellent, join, be rather, require.
:23—“Now therefore,” he said, “put away the foreign gods which are among you, & incline your heart to the LORD God of Israel.” “
Joshua responded to Israel’s accepted responsibility with a call to actively “put away” the foreign gods which were among them—Personally & in their respective inheritances. Once the gods were “put away”, those committed to God’s service must “incline” their hearts toward YaHWeH, Israel’s God. These would be two actions resulting from the same commitment. One must relinquish the past—empowered by flesh— in order to embrace the present & future—empowered by the Holy Spirit.
“Inclining”(stretching) one’s “heart”(innermost being—that place in our very souls which is absolute & devoid of untruth) toward YaHWeH requires total surrender(:19).
“Put away”(See :14)—rwo soor—1) To turn aside, depart—1a) (Qal)—1a1) To turn aside, turn in unto, 1a2) To depart, depart from way, avoid, 1a3) To be removed, 1a4) To come to an end, 1b) (Polel) To turn aside, 1c) (Hiphil)—1c1) To cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose, 1c2) To put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish, 1d) (Hophal) To be taken away, be removed. Strong—a primitive root; To turn off (literal or figurative).
“Incline”—hjn naw-taw’—1) To stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow. Strong— a primitive root; To stretch or spread out; by implication, To bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of applications.
“Heart”—bbl lay-bawb’—1) Inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding—1a) Inner part, midst—1a1) Midst (of things), 1a2) Heart (of man), 1a3) Soul, heart (of man), 1a4) Mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory, 1a5) Inclination, resolution, determination (of will), 1a6) Conscience, 1a7) Heart (of moral character), 1a8) As seat of appetites, 1a9) As seat of emotions & passions 1a10) as seat of courage.
:24—“And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, & His voice we will obey!” “
The people all declared that they would “serve” YaHWeH whose direction they had accepted.
Israel thereby considered YaHWeH their God(:16, 18, 23).
They added that they would thus “obey” His voice. As a result of their belief, they would thus carry thru with whatever direction YaHWeH declared.
God speaks with His people.
“Obey”—emv shaw-mah’—1) To hear, listen to, obey; 2) Sound. Strong—To hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, To tell, etc.):-- X Attentively, call (gather) together, X carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell, understand, whosoever [heareth], witness.
:25—“So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, & made for them a statute & an ordinance in Shechem.”
“So”—Thus, therefore, as a result of Israel's commitment to serve YHWH.
Joshua “made a covenant with the people”. He made a statute & ordinance in Shechem(location of the tabernacle) between Mt. Gerazim & Mt. Ebal(:1).
Joshua made their covenant recognizable & accepted by the entire nation of Israelites. By mutual commitment, they became a solidified people around their God, YaHWeH & in the fashion of His ordaining.
This was a vital step as the judicially binding action solidified, marked & set apart the nation as a whole. It would mark the determining standards by which the progress or regress of the nation would be forever measured.
“Made”—trk kaw-rath’—Lit.— ‘Cut’—1) To cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant. Sacrifice implied to seal the covenant. Strong—To cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, To destroy or consume; specifically, To covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh & passing between the pieces):-- Be chewed, be con-[feder-]ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league ([covenant]), X lose, perish, X utterly, X want.
“Covenant”—tyrb ber-eeth’—1) Covenant, alliance, pledge. Strong—A compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh):-- Confederacy, [con-]feder[-ate], covenant, league. Binding agreement.
“Statute”—qx—1) Statute, ordinance, limit, something prescribed, due. Strong—An enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage):-- Appointed, bound, commandment, convenient, custom, decree(-d), due, law, measure, X necessary, ordinance(-nary), portion, set time, statute, task. Prescribed tasks/duties/conditions.
“Ordinance”—jpvm—1) Judgment, justice, ordinance. Judgement/Legal decision. A binding, solemn & public act. properly, A verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially A sentence or formal decree (human or [participant’s] divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, & the penalty; abstractly, Justice, including a participant’s right or privilege (statutory or customary), or even a style.
Shechem—Mkv shek-em’—1) Son of Hamor, the chieftain of the Hivites at Shechem at the time of Jacob’s arrival. 2)A city in Manasseh; located in a valley between Mount Ebal & Mount Gerizim, 34 miles (54 km) north of Jerusalem & 7 miles (10.5 km) south-east of Samaria.
:26—“Then Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone, & set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.”
Joshua wrote(or had written) the very words of their covenant in “the book of the law of God.” The law which was handed down from Moses(Gen.-Deut.).
Joshua further entrenched the agreement by setting up a stone under the oak(commonly practiced among pagan cultures to signify the place of worship of their deities—
Deut. 12:2—“You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess serve their gods, on the high mountains & on the hills & under every green tree.”) which was “by the sanctuary”(Tabernacle) of YaHWeH.
“Stone”—Nba eh’-ben—1) Stone (large or small)—1) Stone (large or small), 1a) Common stone (in natural state), 1b) Stone, as material—1b1) Of tablets, 1b2) Marble, hewn stones, 1c) Precious stones, stones of fire, 1d) Stones containing metal (ore), tool for work or weapon, 1e) Weight, 1f) Plummet (stones of destruction) also made of metal, 1g) Stonelike objects, eg hailstones, stony heart, ice, 1h) Sacred object, as memorial Samuel set up to mark where God helped Israel to defeat the Philistines, 1i) (simile)—1i1) Sinking in water, motionlessness, 1i2) Strength, firmness, solidity, 1i3) Commonness, 1j) (metaph)—1j1) Petrified with terror, 1j2) Perverse, hard heart.
:27—“And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God.””
Joshua declared that the stone was to be for a witness against Israel. “Us”—Joshua included himself in the covenant witness. The stone had heard all regarding the commitment of the people.
Israel accepted & looked to the stone as a lasting reminder & witness to their agreement & commitments. They did this for fear that they they may turn from their God.
“Witness”—hde ay-daw’—1) Testimony, witness—1a) Always plural & always of laws as divine testimonies.
“Deny”—vxk kaw-khash’—1) To deceive, lie, fail, grow lean, be disappointing, be untrue, be insufficient, be found liars, belie, deny, dissemble, deal falsely. Strong—To be untrue, in word (To lie, feign, disown) or deed (To disappoint, fail, cringe):-- Deceive, deny, dissemble, fail, deal falsely, be found liars, (be-)lie, lying, submit selves.
?What level of COMMITMENT is required for you to enter a New Phase of Life & live God’s way?
Argumentation:
Ps. 37:3-7—“Trust in the LORD, & do good; Dwell in the land, & feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, & wait patiently for Him...”
Lk. 12:48—““...For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; & to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”
Lk. 16:10—““He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; & he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”
Rom. 6:16-18—“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”
1Thess. 2:4—“But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.”
Illustration:
A contractor must be fully committed to finish any project well/He must ensure those operating under his name, work of the highest quality worthy of the name/People will associate his name(company name) with high quality or the lack thereof/Full COMMITMENT to finish well
You Graduates....have potential to finish well!/And you will if you are Fully COMMITTED—1st to Christ...& in Christ, Fully COMMIT to the task at hand!
Application:
?To what level are you Fully COMMITTED in this New Phase of life ?
?You ready for this New Phase of life?
4—A New Phase of life requires your...
UNIQUE Attention(:28)
Explanation:(:28) Entrance/Act/Dive In
:28—“So Joshua let the people depart, each to his own inheritance.”
Joshua dismissed the people to their inheritance. they were no longer bound to one another to conquer the land as a unit(nation) but each tribe & individual became responsible for his own inheritance. However, their ties as a unified nation under YaHWeH were now forged as well.
Thus their unique abilities talents & giftedness were to be used in possessing their inheritances. they were in a sense...on their own or rather, they were made responsible for their relationship with God & His inheritance.
This approaches the doctrine of Soul Competency. Every individual is personally responsible & answerable to God.
“Let...Depart/Dismissed/Sent...Away”—xlv shaw-lakh’—1) To send, send away, let go, stretch out. Strong—To send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications).
?What UNIQUE Attention will you supply in order to live life God’s way?
?Will you cave to the temptation to ‘live like the world’ or will you rather apply your UNIQUE attention to ‘live like Christ?’
Argumentation:
Eph 4:11-16—“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, & some pastors & teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith & of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to & fro & carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- from whom the whole body, joined & knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
1Cor 12:4-27—“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one & the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one & has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--& have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; & our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, & members individually.”
Illustration:
Your own UNIQUE character adds to the joy of others & yourself!
Missions to Haiti/Some go as Carpenters(Architectural, rough, finish)—Medical Drs.(Specialists— pediatricians, dermatoligists, cardiac, internists, orthopaedists)—Preachers(story tellers, expositional, topical, series)—School teachers(age grade, college professors)—Food Preparers & Servers—.....Each adds his or her UNIQUE Attention, talent & giftedness to their work benefitting others!
While driving thru Salisbury after graduation/We passed an older man with longish pure white haired trudging downtown/My wife says oh that’s Dr. Such-n-such!/He’s the funniest Dr.!/I wouldn’t want to be one of his patients!—If you’re one if his patients you’ll be sure to stay in the hospital at least a few days/He keeps his patients in there longer than anybody else!/His patients receive Dr. what’s-is-face’s UNIQUE Attention!
Application:
?You applied your UNIQUE Attention to this New Phase of life?
?You ready for this New Phase of life?
*Don’t let anyone put you in a box or mold you are not meant for!
CONCLUSION:
Action:
A New Phase of life requires your...
1. DECISION(:14-16)
2. SUBSTANTIATION(:17-21)
3. COMMITMENT(:22-27)
4. UNIQUE Attention(:28)
Presented 06/12/2011am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
