Joshua 24:14-24

< Back to Joshua Index

TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Joshua's Farewell Address, Part Two

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Faithful believers cannot serve two masters.

  2. Faithful believers cannot lead two lives.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. You must surrender before you can serve.

QUESTIONS

  1. Where was Israel gathered to hear Joshua's farewell address?

  2. What was the purpose of this farewell address?

  3. What do a number of commentaries have to say concerning this farewell address?

  4. How does this relate to the situation in Joshua 24?

  5. What is the structure of this treaty?

ANSWERS

  1. At Shechem in the central part of Canaan.

  2. To say goodbye to the people as Joshua retired from public life, and to have the people renew their covenant with the Lord.

  3. They point out that Joshua 24 is written in the typical form of an ancient treaty between a king and his vassals.

  4. It is a covenant treaty between the Lord, as King, and His people as His servants.

  5. Preamble (24:1-2) Historical prologue of what the king has done for his servants (24:2-13) Stipulations of the covenant (24:14-24) Writing and depositing of the agreement (24:25-28)

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Joshua challenged Israel to put away their idols and cult objects. You cannot serve God and other gods at the same time. See Joshua 24:19, Matthew 6:24 and 1 Timothy 6:6-11. Are you fully serving the Lord?

  2. Joshua said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15) Several times the people answered, "We will serve the Lord." The difference was that Joshua surrendered his life to the Lord and the people hadn't. Israel's commitment was short lived. What is your commitment? Does your life show it? What choices do you make when no one else is watching?

CHALLENGE

  1. Have you totally surrendered your life to the Lord? Are there still idols in your life? (An idol is anything that takes your focus away from the Lord). Read and memorize Romans 12:1-2. Have you come to that place in your life? Can you say with Joshua, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord?"

KEY VERSES

  • Fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away other gods. Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve." (Joshua 24:14-15)

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

  • "Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods." (Joshua 24:16)

Joshua, Old Testament, TalksRon ReidJOSHUA 24:14-24