A Hero’s Final Words, Joshua 23-24

 

A Hero’s Final Words, Joshua 23-24

זָקֵ֔ן בָּ֖א בַּיָּמִֽים׃

zā·qên bā bay·yā·mîm

I’m old, in the sunset, of my days

 

Joshua 23:1-2. Senior Citizen

The nation gathers. All eyes are on you. All ears tuned to hear you. You scan the crowd. Some you know, most you don’t—but they’re all family, in one way or another. This is your last speech. What do you say? What do you want them to remember? How do you want to be remembered?   

Joshua is a national hero; the one God chose to lead Israel into the Promise Land. His very name mirrors Jesus.

Here’s what he chose for his final speech.

Joshua opens by stating the obvious; zā·qên bā bay·yā·mîm. I’m old, in the sunset, of my days.

You may remember back in Joshua 13:1, we were already told Joshua was old. So now, he must be really old. Bible scholars say there’s a several year gap between chapter 22 and 23; perhaps 15-20 years. We’ll see in a moment that Joshua is one hundred and ten years old.

 

Joshua 23:3-5. To God be the glory

Then, he points to God, not himself. Look what the Lord has done. Remember Him. You stand here, at peace, with an inheritance from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam, God blessed, you Israel (and America) just as He promised you, and will continue to, as long as you…

Joshua 23:6-10.  No Compromise

He gives God the glory and then tells them to keep, do, hold fast to the foundation, The Law of Moses, the first five books, the Pentateuch; their constitution. Written in part by the finger of God. (Ten Commandments), and the rest written by Moses, inspired by their founding Father, God.  

In a way, the US Constitution was similar. Many of our founding fathers had a close relationship with the Father, and a deep reverence for His Word. They openly acknowledged assistance from Providence, and even claimed the US Constitution was a miracle.

George Washington said, it’s impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.

John Adams advised, “We recognize no Sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus.”

Andrew Jackson said, that Book, the Bible is the rock on which our republic rests.

Ab Lincoln stated, I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man, all the Good, from the Savior of the world, is communicated to us through this Book. 

Ulysses S Grant said, to hold fast to the Bible as the sheet anchor of your liberties. 

Woodrow Wilson advised that a man has deprived himself of the best there is in the world who has deprived himself of the Bible.

“Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.” Ronald Reagan.

 

Joshua 23:11 Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God.

In a sentence, Joshua sums up this chapter. Love is a verb. If you love God, you will obey Him. Simple as that. Not easy. But simple. 

Jesus says it like this: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40.

If you love Me, you’ll keep My commandments. John 14:15. 

 

Joshua 23:12-16. Take heed or else!

Take careful heed, or else, if you don’t, just as the good things came upon you, so shall harmful things overtake you until they destroy you and you shall perish from the good land the Lord has given you. 

When you turn from the Godly ways that made you great, to the ways of those God destroyed—you will receive their fate.

Joshua explains that their greatest threat is not from without—but within. 

It won’t be long until moral corruption will destroy them. Instead of, being the head and not the tail,above only and not beneath, a lender and not a borrower, the land of the free, home of the brave, becomes a land in freefall, a nation forced to raise the debt ceiling or default. A people led by those with debased minds and no moral compass. Crime and chaos the norm. What was once foundational undisputed absolute Truth, is questioned. 

It doesn’t take long. Just in my lifetime we’ve witnessed:

1962: Supreme Court ends school prayer. The prayer that was so offensive: “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence on Thee and beg Thy blessing over us, our parents, our teachers and our nation.”

1963. Supreme Court ends Bible reading in school.

National debt, was half of GDP (Gross domestic product) —but from that year to this debt rose, until surpassing GDP in 2015. In the car world that’s called, being, upside down. Apt description of our nation’s financial situation.

1973: Supreme Court codified slaughtering babies

1980: The Ten Commandments no longer allowed in any state or federal building.

1992: The Supreme Court ruled that a graduation prayer violated the “Establishment Clause” of the Constitution. The prayer: “O God, we are grateful for the learning which we have celebrated on this joyous commencement … we give thanks to You, Lord, for keeping us alive, sustaining us and allowing us to reach this special, happy occasion.”

2013 DOMA repealed by Biden. Defense of marriage act, defined marriage as one man and one woman. 

2015: The Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states. That’s an out-of-control wildfire growing every day. Now, gender fluidity, identity, stupidity. This fire of iniquity cannot be quenched; it’s final destination—the lake of fire. 

2021: In Biden’s first year occupying the oval office, he failed to even mention God during the National Day of Prayer declaration. That was the first time in American history, since it was established in 1952 by Harry S Truman.

About two weeks ago I held up my Bible and said to our lovely little Church family, something like this: “Make sure you have hard copies of the Bible, and books on the Bible, because just like—” I snapped my fingers, “—electronic data can be erased.” I explained that there’s coming a day when sound Bible teaching will be erased, it’ll be considered, “hate speech.”

I had no idea what was next.

Yesterday I held up my Bible again, and talked about how we were in our third day of what appeared to be a systematic sponging from facebook, of every link to where our Bible Studies are posted.

As this is written it continues.

Each day we receive notices about the posts being deleted. Each post has one thing in common—they link to a simple little blog I’ve been writing for 14 years. The notice states “Your post goes against our Community Standards” (I wonder: Commun-ity—as in—Commun-ism?).

When warning the Church about the coming day where antichrist algorithms would systematically sponge all trace of sound Bible teaching…I never dreamed we’d see an object lesson so soon.

The last words of our Lord before ascending into heaven were a command to be His witnesses...to the uttermost parts of the earth. 

Since Facebook has become the town square of the world, it seems appropriate that Christians should echo God’s Voice, by clicking "share" every time we see a post that magnifies our Lord. 

Who know, perhaps the algorithms will see "Jesus" trending and join us in spreading the Good news to the uttermost.

Overcome evil with Good. Romans 12:21.

When a nation turns from God, it’s demise is imminent. Unless God delivers America, we’re doomed for destruction. 

 

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:28-32

 

 

Joshua 24:1-13. HIStory

Shechem is between Mount Ebal and Gerizim. Remember in chapter eight they paused from battle and worshipped, announcing the blessings and cursings.

Now, it’s the Lord’s turn to speak. “Thus says the Lord…”

And what does He talk about?

HIStory. 

Remembering HIStory solidifies the foundation.  

Psalm 11:3 states: If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Jesus paints the picture like this:

Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27.

 

Joshua 24:14-16. As for me and my house

This is the most famous part of Joshua. You may have that verse hanging on your wall.

We all must choose who we’ll serve. But the choice must be made individually. No one can make it for you.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15.

Speaking of serving, did you notice something else? 

When the Lord repeats a word, it’s not because He can’t think of another; it’s to get our attention. 

Serve is repeated…seven times in those few verses. It’s repeated a total of sixteen times in Joshua 24; more than any other chapter in the Bible.  

 

Joshua 24:16-21. Total Commitment

They repeat things God did for them, for them, for them. All eyes were on them. Not Him. Denoting a shallow, selfish, commitment. Of course, we’ll serve Him, as long as He’s taking such good care of us. 

So, Joshua reminds them you cannot have it both ways, you cannot serve Him and others. He is a jealous God. Jesus says it like this: 

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24.

 

Joshua 24:22-25. Put it in writing

Serving God is a total and serious commitment. This cannot be taken lightly, or flippantly. Salvation didn’t come cheap, and it isn’t cheap to keep. Take up your cross—Jesus said—and follow Me. It isn’t a simply bought fire insurance policy against hell. No empty words. Joshua made (cut) a covenant. They put the agreement in writing as a legal binding statute and ordinance. 

 

Joshua 24:26-28. Can I get a witness

Joshua adds his writings to the Books of Moses, and the Book of Joshua is born for us to read today.

As common with Joshua, he sets up a stone as a memorial and witness.

 

Joshua 24:29-33. The servant

Joshua servant of the Lord, died. No fanfare. No shining tribute. Just the simple words, “servant of the Lord.”

Lord, may we all be remembered with such humble honor.

 

Joseph's bones are buried. 

Eleazar the priest, dies. 

 

Joshua’s final words and legacy:

His Passion: Love the Lord your God. 

His Commission: Choose this day who you will serve.

His Example: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.