Josh. 23 and 24.
GOD granted to Israel a long time of rest from all their enemies before He took Joshua away from them. However, the time came at last for this faithful and honored servant of the Lord to go “the way of all the earth,” for he was now “old, and stricken in age.” Calling to him the chief ones of Israel, he said to them they had seen how the Lord their God had fought for them, and what He had done to the people about them. He then said, “Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain ... and the Lord your God, He shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight, and ye shall possess their land, as the Lord your God hath promised unto you.” Joshua then counseled them to keep and do all that was written in the book of the law of Moses. Also he warned them to keep separate from the nations that were still in the land. They were not to so much as to name their gods; but they were to cleave unto the Lord.
Let us pause for a moment, and seek to gather lessons from this God-given counsel of Joshua’s. Although Israel had gained many victories, there were yet enemies to be driven out of the land. So for those who believe in Jesus, although victories have been achieved, there are still enemies to be overcome. The enemy of souls will use all his blandishments and allurements to ensnare those who love the Lord, and just in measure as vanities, or the pleasures of the world, are allowed, they will hinder onward progress, and will become “pricks” and “thorns,” even as. the nations left in the land became to Israel.
Another most important lesson we may draw from Joshua’s counsel is, to “keep” and “do” the things written in God’s blessed word. Herein lies safety, strength and eternal reward. The blessing that results from keeping and doing can neither be measured by word nor thought; but it is only through Christ that anyone can “keep” and “do”. Resolving will not avail. “Without Me ye can do nothing,” Jesus says.
A third lesson we may gather is the necessity of walking in the separate path. This will hinder going on with those who know not God; and with those who are walking in the ways of the world. Too many of God’s children are, alas! thus walking; but the call is to walk separate from such.
Yet another lesson we may learn from Joshua’s parting words; we should cleave to the Lord. Oh, dear young reader, how I would like to press upon your souls the importance of this. Cleave, cleave to Him. The devil would get you in his clutches; cleave to the Lord. The devil would occupy your precious time with “innocent amusements;” turn away from these, and cleave to the Lord. The devil would lead you in the way of those who are walking with the world; shun all such, and cleave to the Lord. The devil would make you think you have no time to read your Bible, and that there is no joy in the heavenly things; tell him he is a “liar,” and, cleave to the Lord. The devil would fill your heart with fear; do not heed him; power comes from God; cleave to the Lord. The devil would artfully insinuate that there is more joy in light reading and in other things that please the flesh, than there is in the Lord. Do not listen to this for a moment, for there is joy unspeakable for those who cleave to the Lord. Cleave, then, “cleave to the Lord with purpose of heart.”
ML 03/25/1906