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Lesson Twenty two: Chapter 23: Joshua's penultimate message, God keeps his Word
A. Introduction
1. Greetings
2. Overview. [For those online, see this book overview from The Bible Project (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqOqJlFF_eU )
B. Today’s lesson: Chapters 23
Joshua is old and calls for the leadership
We begin reading in chapter 23 as Joshua is on his last leg. He knows his time is coming to pass the torch on to others. He will do that in a moment, but look at the condition report in verse 1. “After many days… Joshua was old… coming into his days.’ The signs are on the wall that Joshua’s term is concluding. And if he’s to be a success, he has to once more establish God as the One to whom Israel is owing, from whom we expect all things. God is to be our centre. And the Scriptures, which Joshua has called us to since the beginning of his tenure as general, will again play a significant role.
Let’s dig in.
Verse one, rest was all around. The Jewish people had conquered the territory, although some vestiges of the enemies remained. God had given rest to Israel, saviv, that is, all around, if you will, as a top spins and looks around 360 degrees, it was a comprehensive rest for all Israel. Joshua is old. It’s now time for a final declaration. We have seen such declarations by Patriarchs (Genesis 27:28–29, 48:20) and Joshua calls for the leadership.
Who shows up? Elders, heads, judges and officers. They are the governmental and religious representatives of “all Israel.” They will hear the words of Joshua and are charged to transmit them to the people.
History First (.1-.5)
What does Joshua tell them? First, a bit of history.
1) I’m not the guy. I’m old. I’m not going to be around much longer.
2) You have been witnesses of God’s activities the last few decades. Eyewitnesses are being called to the courtroom to verify, to corroborate the testimony of Joshua.
3) You know God has been fighting for you. This should put a cabash on those who think they were the ones who conquered. If they won a battle at Jericho or Ai, at Merom or Beth-Horon, it was God who sustained and kept them. It was God who won the battles. We say with the apostle Paul, “Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Yeshua Hamashiach.” (1 Cor. 15.57)
4) I apportioned the land as ‘an inheritance’. Think about that one. He’s saying that I didn’t give it to you. The Lord promised and He fulfilled. Then I got to mop up the action and distribute what wasn’t mine to each of you and your tribes. I’m very much not the guy.
5) Verse 5, God will continue to work with you in the final removing of the enemies of Israel, for God has promised you
All of that introduction is about God and not about Joshua. If you want to venerate me in the decades to come, that’s not the best use of praise. If you want to set up what’s next for Israel, remember to remember God. So many other ancient civiizations give testimony to the general who conquers territory; Joshua will have none of that.
First Admonition (.6-.8)
Then beginning in verse 6, there is the first of two admonitions.
6) Keep what is written in Torah
7) Keeping of Torah will prevent your going astray
8) Not going astray will keep you from the nations and their tribal deities
He continued with a beautiful charge, saying “to Shamar and L’asot (to guard and to do) the Scriptures.” Whatever that might mean to him in his day, or to us in our day, it’s clear that the Word of God is powerful and able to keep us from danger. Here in our class we spoke about God’s promises in detail a few weeks ago and I encouraged you to make a list, a long list of all the Lord had said he would do in your life and in the world. During this lockdown of Covid, yet again, we need to be looking to God and his promises. A future and a hope. Eternal life, not stolen, killed or destroyed. That kind of promise. He’s the promise keeper. Our job is to keep Torah and do it.
Remember the first commandment? “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20.2-3)
This charge by Joshua to the eldership is a reminder of that First Commandment.
The second commandment is not to make idols. Joshua is making the point that the enemy will not only come at you with swords and horses, but also with false deities and allurements. Joshua warns Israel not even to mention the names of their gods, since that could lead to curiosity and interest, which increases the possibility of swearing by the false gods, or making idols to which we might bow down.
That’s the third commandment—taking God’s name in vanity. Get it? Joshua is rehearsing the decalogue for Israel.
But then verse 8 jumps in with something different. The Hebrew is a flashback, but not to the Decalogue. It’s from last week’s lesson in chapter 22.
תִּדְבָּ֑קוּ
Cling to him. Hold fast to him. Things are slipping—hold him fast! Cling because your life depends on it. Cling like the Titanic survivors to the piece of wood floating in the ocean. Cling, like a child to the trousers of a father, when an unknown person begins to approach them.
Cling to God, you’ve been doing that. So the word is to stay faithful to God.
Remember, God has been battling on your behalf. So, the first commandment is again highlighted with the Hebrew to love
לְאַהֲבָ֖ה אֶת־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
You don’t see the word “love” in the Decalogue. It is in the Shema (Deut. 6), and again here it is the same command form. Thou shalt love.
Dear friends, when you hear a command to love, it doesn’t sound organic. It doesn’t sound natural. It sounds like a parent telling a child to love his depressing uncle or to love your little brother who is taking all the focus of every dinner away from you. A command to love leaves me a bit …how shall we say… incomplete.
One of the really good things coming out of lockdown for me is a renewal of my first love. I really am enjoying time with God, alone, without the urgency of emails or Facebook, without the need to fight traffic and find a car park, without the regular interruptions of so many things and people. It’s actually been quite refreshing. It didn’t hurt that just before this lockdown, my wife and I moved into a new home. Not new, but new to us. And as a result, we had to box everything which meant we have had to unbox everything on this side of the move. It’s still happening. I found a couple of books and a mezuzah yesterday in unpacking that really gave me joy. So many things are making me happy in these days. I’m finding my relationship with God, and with my wife and grandsons seriously renewed.
But here we see the command to love in context. It’s in the admonition of the Israelites by the failing, dying Joshua. Joshua is almost 110 years old. He has seen a lot, back in Egypt and in the wilderness, and now here in the conquest of the Land of Canaan. And he heard the warnings of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 from Moses. He knows that if Israel wants to get this right, to stay and succeed in the Land of Milk and Honey, that they have to have God as #1 in their lives.
Joshua knows the enemies of Israel are the nations, and the gods of the nations, and the indolence of Israel. If we forget commandment #1, then all the others will tumble like dominos.
After a bit of another rehearsal of the activities and power of God (verses 9-10), along with the reminder of the promises of God, Joshua enters into a 2nd admonition.
Second admonition (.11-16)
Joshua says to take heed to love God. It’s a different style of command. It’s a reminder that love is the goal of our instruction. It’s a reminder that it takes hard work “
וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם מְאֹ֖ד לְנַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֑ם
Guard your souls very much. Be on guard. Be the police of your soul. Don’t let anything come in which doesn’t belong there. Don’t let anyone stop your love interest. Again, it’s STAY FAITHFUL.
What’s the admonition? Don’t cling (same verb) to the nations. Don’t intermarry with them. They will be thorns in your sides. (Remember what we said about those in light of Paul’s thorn in the flesh).
Verse 14, Joshua says he’s dying. And that God keeps his promise. Now listen, verse 15 is the 2nd admonition. Why? Because God keeps his promises. In the same way that he gave you the land, and drove out the enemies. In the same way if you mess up, and go after other gods, his promise is to eradicate you from the land. He will remove you (.16). He will be angry. He will deal with you according to all his promises.
Some of the commentators I read highlight that since we are in the New Covenant that these verses do not apply to us. Clever, but the issue is the principle of God’s promise-keeping. And those same commentators (as Davis says) need to spend “an afternoon with the Epistle to the Hebrews” which “should effect a permanent cure.” (page 188)
I think of that verse ending Romans 9 through 11, the one I love and hate at the same time, 11.22, “Behold the kindness and severity of God.” God is not a one-handed deity; he brings justice and kindness; powerful judgment and mercy. He will keep his promises.
Invitation
Dear friends, have you met the Promise Keeping God? Do you know that Yeshua gave us victory by his dying on the cross? Have you been born again to the living hope God promised? Yeshua died to give us the way into relationship with the Lord. We love Yeshua because in his death he accomplished salvation for all people. He took the curse we deserved to give us his righteousness which he deserved. Forgiveness is available because of the death of our messiah.
If you’d like to receive him today, just now, join me as we pray.
Say something like this: “Father in Yeshua’s name, forgive me my sin, I was wrong to dismiss you and to disbelieve in you. I need your mercy. I deserve punishment but you are kind and merciful and I receive your grace. I repent. I receive Yeshua as my saviour and Lord. I will live because of my faith in Messiah Yeshua. Amen.
If you prayed that, please let us know of your profession by writing straightaway, won’t you? Bob@JewsforJesus.org.au We’d love to hear from you.
Conclusion
We are delighted you have joined us today. Please join us next week and learn with the others how you can stay on track in 2021 and beyond. I hope to see you next week as we continue our studies in Joshua. You will certainly see yourself in the readings, the applications, and the lessons. Next week we will finish up Joshua, reading chapter 24, in what I call “Three funerals and renewing the covenant” and see what lessons we can draw for ourselves from the scenes there! We will have one more week in a fortnight, discussing the mega-topic of Holy War as well.
Hope to see you then… until next week, Shabbat shalom!
Bibliography
Butler, Trent C., Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 7. Joshua. Word, Waco, 1983.
Davis, Dale Ralph, Joshua: No Falling Words, Christian Focus, Fearn, Ross-shire, Scotland, 2019.
Hess, Richard. Tyndale Commentary Complete.
Meyer, F.B., Joshua and the Land of Promise, Christian Literature Crusade, Ft Washington PA, 1977.
Pritchard, James, “The Bible reports on Gibeon.” Penn Museum, Expedition, 1961. Volume 3, Issue 4.
Sanders, J. Oswald, Promised-Land Living, Moody Press, Chicago, 1984.
Thompson, Frank Charles, Chain Reference Bible, Kirkbride Bible Co, Indianapolis, 1964.
Toms, Paul, This land is your land. Gospel Light Publishing, Glendale CA, 1977.
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D-Groups for this week
1) Monday 11 am Sydney time. Led by James Howse
2) Monday 7 pm, Sydney time, led by James White
(Contact our office for zoom details)
If you’d like to host a D-Group either online or in person, please contact bob@jewsforjesus.org.au for further details. It’s time to step up. Ponder this—who will be in your D-Group?
The Book of Joshua: Outline.
A. Entering the Land (Chapters 1-4)
a. Chapter 1: A funeral and a promise
b. Chapter 2: A harlot saves the day
c. Chapter 3: Go against the flow (Part 1)
d. Chapter 4: Go against the flow (Part 2)
B. Taking the Land (5-12)
a. Chapter 5: Roll away iniquity: a study in sacraments
b. Chapter 6: Joshua fit d’battle ob Jericho
c. Chapter 7: Getting it very wrong: Achan and his mistakes
d. Chapter 8: Combat and Covenant
e. Chapter 9: Common sense is not so common
f. Chapter 10: Southern dominance
g. Chapter 11: How not to win
h. Chapter 12: God is faithful
C. Possessing the Land (13-21)
a. Chapter 13: Inheritance lessons
b. Chapter 14: Caleb as an example with a side of contentment
c. Chapter 15: Geography lesson
d. Chapter 16: God’s ways are not our ways
e. Chapter 17: Promise vs compromise
f. Chapter 18-19: Apportionment continued
g. Chapter 20: Cities of Refuge
h. Chapter 21: Levite cities to the rescue
D. Retaining the Land (22-24)
a. Chapter 22: Can an altar alter anything?
b. Chapter 23: Staying on edge
c. Chapter 24: Three funerals and Renewing the covenant
The Seven Nations
1. Amorite
2. Canaanite
3. Girgashite
4. Hittite
5. Hivite
6. Jebusite
7. Perizzite
Josh. 23:1 Now it came about after many days, when the LORD had given arest to Israel from all their enemies 1on every side, and Joshua was old, advanced in years, 2 that aJoshua called for all Israel, for their elders and their heads and their judges and their officers, and said to them, “I am old, advanced in years. 3 “And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you, for athe LORD your God is He who has been fighting for you. 4 “See, aI have apportioned to you these nations which remain as an inheritance for your tribes, with all the nations which I have cut off, from the Jordan even to the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun. 5 “The LORD your God, He will thrust them out from before you and 1adrive them from before you; and byou will possess their land, just as the LORD your God 2promised you. 6 “aBe very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 7 so that you will not 1associate with these nations, these which remain among you, or amention the name of their gods, or bmake anyoneswear by them, or cserve them, or bow down to them. 8 “But you are to cling to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. 9 “aFor the LORD has 1driven out great and strong nations from before you; and as for you, bno man has stood before you to this day. 10 “aOne of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the LORD your God is bHe who fights for you, just as He 1promised you. 11 “So take diligent heed to yourselves to love the LORD your God. 12“For if you ever go back and acling to the rest of these nations, these which remain among you, and bintermarry with them, so that you 1associate with them and they with you, 13 know with certainty that the LORD your God will not continue to 1drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a asnare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.
Josh. 23:14 “Now behold, today aI am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that bnot one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have 1been fulfilled for you, not 2one of them has failed. 15 “It shall come about that just as all the good words which the LORD your God spoke to you have come upon you, so athe LORD will bring upon you all the threats, until He has destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you. 16 “aWhen you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which He has given you.”
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