JOSHUA LESSON 23
We will begin this lesson in Joshua 23:1 "And it came to pass a
long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all
their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old [and] stricken in
age."
This is speaking of Joshua being very old. In fact, he is so old
he realizes he is near death. This is a time of peace for Israel.
Joshua 23:2 "And Joshua called for all Israel, [and] for their
elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their
officers, and said unto them, I am old [and] stricken in age:"
Joshua wants to give them some instructions, before he dies. He
calls them together for that purpose. These are the words of an aged
leader. Joshua had done everything he knew to do to keep the
commandments of God. It is not found that Joshua disobeyed God. He was
faithful.
Joshua 23:3 "And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath
done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God [is]
he that hath fought for you."
Sometimes, when everything is running smoothly, we tend to forget
that God has brought us where we are. These Israelites were no
different. They must be reminded, that this land they are living in
was a gift to them from their God. He had blessed them mightily, and
even fought for them in their battles.
Joshua 23:4 "Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations
that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with
all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea
westward."
This was their promised land. The Lord had chosen who got what
parcel of land, because they had cast lots. This inheritance is an
eternal inheritance, as long as they keep God's commandments.
Joshua 23:5 "And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from
before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall
possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you."
Israel had never really driven all of the enemies out. They were
living peacefully with them. God was not necessarily angry with them
about this, because He had said they would gradually move them out. We
do know that God did not want the Israelites practicing the sins of
these Canaanites. When they began to intermarry with them, it would be
difficult to stay holy before the LORD. The worship of the Canaanites
was of false gods. God would not allow the Israelites to worship false
gods.
Joshua 23:6 "Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do
all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not
aside therefrom [to] the right hand or [to] the left;"
We remember from the study of earlier books that, Moses had the
law written down, so there would be no question what commandments they
were to keep. It is so easy to get slack and stop keeping God's law.
The path of righteousness for them, and for us, is narrow. Salvation
is a daily walk through life. We can not take a vacation from God. We
must not wander to the right, or to the left.
Joshua 23:7 "That ye come not among these nations, these that
remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor
cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto
them:"
This is the problem of living with worldly people around you. The
influence of these people can be very strong. They must stay separate
from the worship of these false gods. Christians are very much like
these Israelites. We are in a world with sinners, who do not follow
God's commands. We are in the world, but we must not be of the world.
We must not practice the ways of the world. God wants His people to be
holy, for He is holy.
Joshua 23:8 "But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done
unto this day."
The following is how much we should love the Lord. Luke 10:27
"And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all
thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." This is not an option. It is
a requirement, if you are to belong to Him.
Joshua 23:9 "For the LORD hath driven out from before you great
nations and strong: but [as for] you, no man hath been able to stand
before you unto this day."
It was not by their might that they drove out their enemies. It
was in the power of God. The power of God working in them, and through
them, won them the victory.
Joshua 23:10 "One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD
your God, he [it is] that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you."
One man and God is a majority, regardless of how many there are
on the other side. Romans 8:31 "What shall we then say to these
things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?" There is no
limit to what God can do. It is the LORD within them that won the
battle.
Joshua 23:11 "Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye
love the LORD your God."
Jude 1:20 "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most
holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost," Jude 1:21 "Keep yourselves in
the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto
eternal life."
Joshua 23:12 "Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto
the remnant of these nations, [even] these that remain among you, and
shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:"
Cleave speaks of a very personal attachment. This is a warning
not to marry with these people, because of their idolatry.
Joshua 23:13 "Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no
more drive out [any of] these nations from before you; but they shall
be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns
in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD
your God hath given you."
The possibility of them being drawn away from God to a false god
would be truly great, in the event of them marrying them. Next to a
person's relationship with God, the relationship of husband and wife
is the closest. God will not smile on them, if they marry these people
who have false gods. There would be a great falling away from God in
the event of them intermarrying with them. Verse 13 says, God would
send many problems to them. The promised land is theirs, only if they
obey God's commands. If they do this terrible thing, God will take it
away from them.
Joshua 23:14 "And, behold, this day I [am] going the way of all
the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that
not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your
God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, [and] not one
thing hath failed thereof."
Joshua is dying. He has been called to his reward in heaven. He
re-emphasizes the blessings God has bestowed upon them. God kept His
promises to them.
Joshua 23:15 "Therefore it shall come to pass, [that] as all good
things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so
shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed
you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you."
This is the same message throughout the Bible. God will greatly
bless those, who keep His commandments. Those who disobey the
commandments of God, will find curses attached to everything they do.
Joshua 23:16 "When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD
your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods,
and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be
kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good
land which he hath given unto you."
To transgress the covenant of the Lord brought the wrath of God
upon them. God will not spare the unfaithful. He will destroy them
from the earth. They are His wife, spiritually. They commit spiritual
adultery, when they follow false gods. God will destroy them for this.
Joshua 23 Questions
1. Joshua waxed _________ and stricken in _______.
2. This is a time of __________ for Israel.
3. Who did Joshua call to him?
4. Why did he call them?
5. What kind of servant of God had Joshua been?
6. What does he remind Israel, they had seen?
7. When is it easy to forget that God has brought us this far?
8. This land, they were living in, was a ________ from God.
9. Who had chosen who got what plot of land?
10. Why was God not angry with them, that they had not completely
driven the enemy out?
11. The worship of the Canaanites was of ________ ______.
12. What were they to be courageous to do?
13. The path of righteousness is _________.
14. What did Moses leave them, to help them?
15. We are in the world, but we must not be ____ the world.
16. Quote Luke chapter 10 verse 27.
17. How had they been able to drive their enemies out?
18. Quote Romans chapter 8 verse 31.
19. Quote Jude chapter 1 verses 20 and 21.
20. "Cleave" speaks of a _________ attachment.
21. What will these nations be to them, if they intermarry with them?
22. What is Joshua saying when he says, he is going the way of all the
earth?
23. What does Joshua re-emphasize to them?
24. What are the two messages throughout the Bible?
25. To transgress the covenant of the Lord, brought what?
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