Today’s daily devotional finds us in the closing chapters of the Book of Joshua. We read about the venerable leader addressing the Israelites one last time. Now advanced in years, Joshua gathers the leaders of Israel to impart final words of wisdom and warning. His message is both a reflection on the past and a guide for the future. He recounts how God has fought for them, reminds them of their responsibilities, and underscores the consequences of turning away from divine commands. As Joshua prepares to depart, his focus is on urging the people to remain faithful and vigilant, emphasizing that their continued peace and prosperity hinge on their adherence to God’s law. This poignant moment in Joshua 23 serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of commitment and obedience in our own spiritual journeys. To learn about misunderstandings, read the daily devotional on Joshua 22.
Joshua 23 Commentary by Allen J. Huth
In Joshua 23, Joshua is now old. He is going to give some advice to the leaders of Israel. Do you look back? Do you see God’s hand in your life? Please read or listen to Joshua 23.
What Were Joshua’s Final Instructions to the Israelites?
In 1995, at forty years old, after reading Joshua 23 (NKJV), I wrote, “Joshua’s farewell,” and I quoted verse 6, “be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left”. I also quoted verse 9, “no one has been able to stand against you to this day.”
In 2004, at forty-nine years old, I finished Joshua by reading Joshua 23-24 and Judges 1 on the same day; I did not make any notes about chapter 23.
How Would You Summarize Joshua’s Farewell Address in Chapter 23-24?
In 2013, at fifty-eight years old, I read Joshua 23 and wrote, “Swan song. Joshua is nearing the end of his days. He addresses the people once again. He reminds them of a couple of things,” and I numbered them 1 through 9:
1) “it is the Lord your God who has fought for you” (v. 3)
2) Drive out the remaining peoples coexisting in the Promised Land (vv. 4-5)
3) Keep the law of Moses (v. 6)
4) Do not mix with remaining people; they are a snare to you (v. 7)
5) “cling to the Lord your God” (v. 8)
6) “love the Lord your God” (v. 11)
7) You can lose the Promised Land by compromising with the enemy (vv. 12-13)
8) God keeps His promises (v. 14)
9) If you disobey, evil and the anger of the Lord will come to you (vv. 15-16)
I finished by writing, “It is always clear in His Word: obey, be blessed; disobey, be cursed.”
Let’s take a look at Joshua 23, beginning with verses 1 and 2, “A long time afterward, when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, Joshua summoned all Israel”. I take it from that verse they had lived in the Promised Land peacefully now for many years. Joshua understands his days are numbered, and he has a few things left to say as he is preparing to depart. Verses 2 and 3, “‘I am now old and well advanced in years.’And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the Lord your God who has fought for you.” Joshua is reminding them how they got where they are.
Verse 6 takes us back to the very beginning of the book in chapter 1, “Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left”. Flip back to 1:7, God speaking this time, not Joshua, “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.” In chapter 1, those were the instructions from God to Joshua. Now in chapter 23, these are the same words Joshua is using to instruct the people of Israel.
Verse 8 says, “but you shall cling to the Lord your God”. That is a reminder of chapter 22:5 when the two and half tribes were returning to the east side of the Jordan River. Joshua told them, “Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
In chapter 23, years have gone by, but Joshua is still instructing the people to cling to the Lord. In verse 11, he tells them, “Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God.” Why does he say that? He tells them in verses 12 and 13:
For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the Lord your God has given you.
That is why they are to be very careful to love the Lord God.
And lastly, in verses 14-16 he reminds them:
that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. But just as all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the Lord your God has given you, if 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 be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.
What Is Joshua’s Warning to the Leaders in Joshua 23?
Joshua warns them, he warns us: stay true to God, stay true to His law, stay true to His commandments. Cling to the Lord. If you do, you will be blessed. But if you do not, the very land God has given you will be taken away from you. The rest, the peace you enjoy in the Promised Land will be gone, replaced by snares and traps and whips on your sides and thorns in your eyes.
The people of Israel had a choice. So do we. As I said in one of my journals, obey and be blessed, disobey and be cursed. It was their choice. It is our choice. What is your choice today?
What Is the Prayer for Joshua 23?
Father, we thank You for the love you show in Your Word. We thank You that You outline the promises, You outline the conditions we can have in our lives; rest, peace, and comfort. It is all about staying close to You, clinging to You, obeying Your commandments.
But we also thank You for the warnings. If we do not cling to You, we will suffer the consequences. And Father, You give us choice. May we all choose well. May we choose to obey and be blessed. And we will give You the thanks. In Jesus’ name, amen.
