Choose Whom You Will Serve
Joshua calls the people to sincere service, sets rival gods before them, and declares his own household's loyalty to the Lord. The people answer by rehearsing the Lord's rescue and protection and by pledging to serve Him.
N14ow, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” 16The people replied, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! 17For the LORD our God brought us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and performed these great signs before our eyes. He also protected us throughout our journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because He is our God!”
Joshua warns that the Lord's holiness and jealousy make this pledge dangerous if it is false. The people insist on their choice, and Joshua turns their own words into testimony against them, pressing them to put away foreign gods and incline their hearts to the Lord.
19But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your rebellion or your sins. 20If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, He will turn and bring disaster on you and consume you, even after He has been good to you.” 21“No!” replied the people. “We will serve the LORD!” 22Then Joshua told them, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” 23“Now, therefore,” he said, “get rid of the foreign gods among you and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” 24So the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey His voice.”
Joshua makes a covenant at Shechem, records it in the Book of the Law, and raises a stone as a witness to the words spoken there. With the matter fixed publicly, he sends the people back to their inheritances.
25On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he established for them a statute and ordinance. 26Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was near the sanctuary of the LORD. 27And Joshua said to all the people, “You see this stone. It will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the LORD has spoken to us, and it will be a witness against you if you ever deny your God.” 28Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.