Difference between revisions of "Joshua 24, Choose Now"
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*Students will determine to choose God as the one they serve. | *Students will determine to choose God as the one they serve. | ||
*Students will aim to eliminate all that might take the place of God in worship and obedience. | *Students will aim to eliminate all that might take the place of God in worship and obedience. | ||
| − | + | *Students will determine to renew their commitments to God. | |
=Introduction= | =Introduction= | ||
*What are some of the most difficult choices a person might have to make? | *What are some of the most difficult choices a person might have to make? | ||
| + | *What is the value of reminding yourself about commitments you have made? | ||
=Main Body= | =Main Body= | ||
| Line 28: | Line 29: | ||
**Bringing Israel out from Egypt | **Bringing Israel out from Egypt | ||
**Bringing Israel across the Red Sea | **Bringing Israel across the Red Sea | ||
| + | **Providing Separation from Egypt | ||
| + | **Destroying the Egyptian army | ||
| + | **Bringing them into the land of the Amorites | ||
| + | **Bringing victory over Balak and the Moabites in spite of Balaam | ||
| + | **Destroying Jericho | ||
| + | **Driving out the Canaanites | ||
| + | **Giving the the land | ||
*Which of these events do you personally find the most impressive? | *Which of these events do you personally find the most impressive? | ||
| + | |||
| + | In this Historical Prologue Joshua presents a compelling argument that Israel should make themselves vassals to God, after all, in every situation God has remained faithful. | ||
==Stipulations and Consequences, Joshua 24:14-24== | ==Stipulations and Consequences, Joshua 24:14-24== | ||
| + | ===Stipulations (verses 14-18)=== | ||
| + | *What stipulations are discussed in verse 14? | ||
| + | **Fear the Lord | ||
| + | **Serve the Lord | ||
| + | **Put away all other gods | ||
| + | **Choose! | ||
| + | |||
| + | *Who does Joshua speak for? | ||
| + | **Him and his household. Why did Joshua speak for his household. | ||
| + | |||
| + | *How did the people respond in verses 16-18? | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Consequences? (verses 19-21)=== | ||
| + | *What consequences does Joshua outline inverses 19-21? | ||
| + | **He will hold them to their promise. Deliberate sin as discussed in Numbers 15:30 would bring high consequences. | ||
| + | ===Witnesses (verses 22-24)=== | ||
| + | *Who dos Joshua call as witnesses of the decision to follow God? | ||
| + | **Joshua calls the people themselves as witnesses. He is verifying that the people understand just how significant their decision to follow God will be. | ||
| + | ==Final Agreement, Joshua 24:25-28== | ||
| + | *How does Joshua seal the deal? | ||
| + | **Joshua establishes a covenant and erects memorials. | ||
| − | == | + | ==The end of an era Joshua 24:29-33== |
| + | *What three men were buried in verses 29 through 33? | ||
| + | **Joshua | ||
| + | **Joseph | ||
| + | **Eliezer | ||
| + | *Why record these three? | ||
| + | **Campbell writes "Recording three burials is a strange way to end a book like Joshua! But these three peaceful graves testify to the faithfulness of God, for Joshua, Joseph, and Eleazar once lived in a foreign nation where they received God’s promise to take His people back to Canaan. Now all three were at rest within the Promised Land."<ref>Donald K. Campbell, “Joshua,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 371.</ref> | ||
=Conclusions= | =Conclusions= | ||
| + | *What does it look like for you to serve the Lord this week, this month, or this year? | ||
| + | *God has instituted a means of reminding us about the sacrifice Christ made. What is that reminder? (communion). What commitments to God do you need to consider the next time you partake of communion? | ||
| + | =References= | ||
Latest revision as of 15:43, 30 January 2019
Objectives
- Students will determine to choose God as the one they serve.
- Students will aim to eliminate all that might take the place of God in worship and obedience.
- Students will determine to renew their commitments to God.
Introduction
- What are some of the most difficult choices a person might have to make?
- What is the value of reminding yourself about commitments you have made?
Main Body
Preamble, Joshua 24:1-2a
- Where did Joshua assemble all the leaders? Why there?
- This was the place where Abraham first received the promise of God in Genesis 12:6-7
- Jacob stopped at Shechem when he returned from Laban in Genesis 35:4
- Joshua stopped in Shechem to build an alter and write the law of God on stone pillars in Joshua 8:30-35
- What headings or titles do our Bibles give to Joshua 24?
- We often refer to this as the Covenant at Shechem. In fact, the literary style of the chapter follows the form of a suzerainty (overlordship) treaty that was used by Hittite kings to obligate their vassal states to faithfulness and obedience. These treaties contained a preamble (v. 1-2a), historical prologue (v. 2b-13), stipulations and consequences (v. 14-24), and the final agreement (v. 25-28). Campbell argues that "The Mosaic Covenant established at Sinai was not an everlasting covenant; hence it needed to be renewed in every generation. That renewal was now transacted in a formal and impressive ceremony."[1]
Historical Prologue, Joshua 24:2b-13
- What historical examples are given?
- Calling of Abraham
- Directing Abraham
- Increasing Abraham
- Sending Israel to Egypt
- Providing Moses and Aaron
- Plaguing Egypt
- Bringing Israel out from Egypt
- Bringing Israel across the Red Sea
- Providing Separation from Egypt
- Destroying the Egyptian army
- Bringing them into the land of the Amorites
- Bringing victory over Balak and the Moabites in spite of Balaam
- Destroying Jericho
- Driving out the Canaanites
- Giving the the land
- Which of these events do you personally find the most impressive?
In this Historical Prologue Joshua presents a compelling argument that Israel should make themselves vassals to God, after all, in every situation God has remained faithful.
Stipulations and Consequences, Joshua 24:14-24
Stipulations (verses 14-18)
- What stipulations are discussed in verse 14?
- Fear the Lord
- Serve the Lord
- Put away all other gods
- Choose!
- Who does Joshua speak for?
- Him and his household. Why did Joshua speak for his household.
- How did the people respond in verses 16-18?
Consequences? (verses 19-21)
- What consequences does Joshua outline inverses 19-21?
- He will hold them to their promise. Deliberate sin as discussed in Numbers 15:30 would bring high consequences.
Witnesses (verses 22-24)
- Who dos Joshua call as witnesses of the decision to follow God?
- Joshua calls the people themselves as witnesses. He is verifying that the people understand just how significant their decision to follow God will be.
Final Agreement, Joshua 24:25-28
- How does Joshua seal the deal?
- Joshua establishes a covenant and erects memorials.
The end of an era Joshua 24:29-33
- What three men were buried in verses 29 through 33?
- Joshua
- Joseph
- Eliezer
- Why record these three?
- Campbell writes "Recording three burials is a strange way to end a book like Joshua! But these three peaceful graves testify to the faithfulness of God, for Joshua, Joseph, and Eleazar once lived in a foreign nation where they received God’s promise to take His people back to Canaan. Now all three were at rest within the Promised Land."[2]
Conclusions
- What does it look like for you to serve the Lord this week, this month, or this year?
- God has instituted a means of reminding us about the sacrifice Christ made. What is that reminder? (communion). What commitments to God do you need to consider the next time you partake of communion?
References
- ↑ Donald K. Campbell, “Joshua,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 369.
- ↑ Donald K. Campbell, “Joshua,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 371.
