Joshua 23: Passing the Torch
Theological Proposition/Focus: God seeks for each of his people to develop Godly character.
Homiletical Proposition/Application: Godly, character stems from faithfulness to God through a variety of situations. Therefore, Godly character cannot be evaluated in a moment but rather through the process of living life.
Contents
- 1 Introduction:
- 1.1 Image:
- 1.2 Need:
- 1.3 Subject:
- 1.4 Preview:
- 1.5 Text:.
- 1.6 Setting the Stage:
- 1.6.1 Godly character cannot be measured in a single moment in time.
- 1.6.2 Farewell from a great leader (1-5)
- 1.6.2.1 A lot had happened in many years
- 1.6.2.2 Joshua was 110 when he dies, Caleb was 85 when the events of Joshua took place. Hence, the long time o verse 1 is probably 25 years.
- 1.6.2.3 The people had seen God's faithfulness and His Faithful Servant.
- 1.6.2.4 God would continue to be faithful to the people.
- 1.6.2.5 Relationship between 23 and 24? Perhaps 23 is farewell to the leaders, 24 is farewell to the people.
- 2 Body
- 2.1 Godly character remains faithful to God himself (6-8).
- 2.1.1 Remaining faithful to God means remaining faithful to his commands (6).
- 2.1.2 Remaining faithful to God means rejecting any false gods (7).
- 2.1.3 Remaining faithful to God means loyally binding oneself to God (8).
- 2.1.4 Image: We put a lot of faith in welds. The average car has 4,000 welds
- 2.1.5 MTR: Bind yourself to God through committing to him alone.
- 2.2 Godly character remains faithful in any environment (9-13).
- 2.2.1 Being faithful in any environment stems from recognizing God's work in any environment (9-10).
- 2.2.2 Being faithful in any environment is helped by recognizing God's faithful love (11).
- 2.2.3 Being faithful in any environment requires we recognize the temptations present (12-13).
- 2.2.4 Image:
- 2.2.5 MTR: Consider the environment you are in today what do you need to recognize if you are to remain faithful?
- 2.3 Godly character remains faithful even in transition (14-16).
- 2.3.1 Faithfulness in the midst of transition recognizes the reality of transition (14).
- 2.3.2 Faithfulness in the midst of transition recognizes the primacy of God (14).
- 2.3.3 Faithfulness in the midst of transition is a must (15-16).
- 2.3.4 Image:
- 2.3.5 MTR: Determine to put your eyes on God and not any mere human.
- 2.1 Godly character remains faithful to God himself (6-8).
- 3 Conclusion:
Introduction:
Image:
Need:
Subject:
Preview:
Text:.
Setting the Stage:
Godly character cannot be measured in a single moment in time.
Rather, Godly character is measured through long periods of time where an individual places their trust in God through varied environments and transitions. Joshua had consistently demonstrated Godly character and now he wanted to ensure that as he passed into the next stage of eternity the people who came behind him were prepared to themselves exercise Godly character.
Farewell from a great leader (1-5)
A lot had happened in many years
Joshua was 110 when he dies, Caleb was 85 when the events of Joshua took place. Hence, the long time o verse 1 is probably 25 years.
The people had seen God's faithfulness and His Faithful Servant.
God would continue to be faithful to the people.
Relationship between 23 and 24? Perhaps 23 is farewell to the leaders, 24 is farewell to the people.
Body
Godly character remains faithful to God himself (6-8).
Remaining faithful to God means remaining faithful to his commands (6).
Image: What is your secret to success?
Have you ever wondered what is the secret to someone's success? I have an uncle who is very interested in the stock market and trading. Several times a year he will come across an interview with Warren Buffet asking what is the secret to success. He often shares such interviews with me and my brothers. Wanting to know someone's secret to success is something most of us have probably experienced. Here in verse six Joshua is sharing the secret to success.
Notice the similarity to Joshua 1:7-8. Joshua had discovered the secret to success remaining faithful to God's commands.
Tried and true, Joshua had experienced life and new this to be true.
Remaining faithful to God means rejecting any false gods (7).
Although Israel had seen many victories, there were still people around who did not worship God.
Joshua reminded the leaders that they must exercise care in their relationships with the surrounding peoples.
Separation from the surrounding culture involves several key steps.
Avoid placing any confidence in the false gods.
Avoid serving any false gods.
Remaining faithful to God means loyally binding oneself to God (8).
Have you ever heard of sandwiching a criticism between two positive statements? Well here Joshua has done something similar. Remaining faithful to God involves both Do's and Do Nots.
Instead of associating with Canaanite God's Israel is to תדבקו (hold fast)- which means to cling tightly.
The word carries the idea of to be stuck to.
In Isaiah 41:7 the root לדבק ִis used of soldering two pieces of metal together on an anvil, an inseparable process.
Image: We put a lot of faith in welds. The average car has 4,000 welds
Consider that the next time you are barreling down the interstate at 75 MPH that there are about 4000 places where two pieces of metal have been brought together. Joshua called on the Israelites to join themselves to God.
