Joshua Chapter 23 Verses 1 – 3

•So last chance here. Joshua is very old now. The original Hebrew describes him as “striken with age,” which implies his health is also failing and he knows this is the last time he will speak with the nation of Israel. And so he calls the leaders together and Joshua communicates what is most important to him, and for them to hear.

•The next two chapters (the final chapters of this book) record for us his last words. Had he wanted to leave an intriguing narrative for generations to come he would have spoken of their great accomplishments of settling probably. Their homes, their neighborhoods being built in the Promised Land. Their wealth, manufacture, trade, customs, government…things that would have interested historians and social study enthusiasts. Not important…

•His last words are calculated, acute, strong and profound. He uses his last words to his family to glorify God and to set them up for permanent success! All of those other things…those cultural curiosities of how they were able to get their nation on its feet in those first years…how they were able to accomplish economy and order and prosperity…all of those things were rooted in following the Lord…and it is still the same today…and so that is his choice of topic…

Joshua Chapter 23 Verses 4 – 6

•Joshua says, “Keep and do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses,” but interestingly, he says how…and I love this. He says, “be very courageous.” You know, in a fallen world, it does take insane courage to follow the Lord. Insane! I mean the tide of the world is completely going a different direction and most of the time it is entirely contrary to God’s Word! He says, “Be very courageous…”

•In the Hebrew that phrase also means, “Grow strong and be strong; prevail; be firm and secure; press and be urgent!” I love that because I look at our church, I look at home-team, April and I, my wife and I, and I see this occurring and its awesome…I think Joshua’s exhortation to us is right on but I also see something up ahead…the key as it were to unlocking courage! Because in truth, we aren’t very courageous…that’s why the Bible describes us so many times as sheep…

Joshua Chapter 23 Verses 7 - 11

•So cool! Joshua just said the same thing again but in a different, most revealing way! He said just a moment ago, “Be very courageous to keep and do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses,” followed by, “Hold fast to the Lord your God,” in verse 8 and now he says again, “Take careful heed to yourselves,” to be courageous? To keep and do? To hold fast? Yes but here he gives the key…, “Take careful heed to yourselves that you love the Lord your God!”

•This is the secret to the courage that we need! To do and to keep and to hold fast…think of it this way. An impossible fight against a powerful predator. Maybe a lion or a crocodile or something just ferocious and terrifying. Now put your child in the scene. Maybe your wife. Same enemy but now it is they that are in harm’s way…what happens? You power up! You rush in! Why? Love!

•Love is audacious, brave, daring, determined, enduring, tenacious and valiant. It’s not fearless, it’s fear conquering! Love cares not of reputation or popularity. Love stands alone in its power, potential and capacity within a heart and with love a multitude of sin is conquered! Exposed for what it is and put down into its rightful place…that’s the implication in the Greek in 1 Peter 4:8. Love is grit, man. To do what should be done no matter the fierceness of the foe.

•What do they need Joshua? Do they need to know how to govern themselves? Do they need to know how to set up a city, a nation? Do they need to know how to fight skillfully…do they need to know how to obey the Laws of the Lord or how to hold fast…can you lay that out practically…maybe in 613 do’s and don’ts? All they need to know how to do…is love the Lord. And the same goes for us.

•How though? How does one come to love the Lord? Well, how does one come to love anyone? Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also, Jesus said. Matthew 6:21. You invest. You invest time. You invest attention. You invest faith, man…you spend time studying His love letter, you spend time talking with Him and just being with Him and you exercise faith…take Him at His word and find Him to be perfectly faithful and even so, as you do, the Word becomes more alive to you…

•And then, as that love grows and it will…grit man…strength, skill, capacity, competence…courage multiplies! What is the greatest commandment they asked Jesus…to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind and with all of your strength. Why? Because that is to be powerful and free. Jesus came to set the captives free…how? By teaching them, showing them and giving them…love.

•What do we need Joshua? What got you through it all? Through the wilderness and into the Promised Land…what do we need, what’s most important…I dig this…love…

Joshua Chapter 23 Verses 12 – 13

•Why? Because God doesn’t want to provide for you? Because He is not able? No! None of that! But because you have rejected Him! “Cling to the remnant of these nations…” if you mix with this world…if you go after the flesh man…He can no longer fight for you but now, not a popular thing to say for sure, His Word and truth itself, now fights against you…He has identified the traitor…if you join with it, with them…then what does that make you?

Joshua Chapter 23 Verses 14 – 16

•It’s a stern warning from a loving leader as we close this chapter. But it’s commonsensical to me. If God is and if His Word is true, and it is…the Holy Spirit within us testifies of that, then to act or walk or go or live against truth will certainly bring about perish…this word in the Hebrew meaning “to go astray, to get lost, to be destroyed…to lose.” Better to love the Lord and be insanely courageous in my opinion. Sounds like a better deal to me…how about you?