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From Eternity Past
serve—“the gods which your fathers served,” from whom Abraham
was called out, “or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell.”
These last words were a keen rebuke to Israel. The gods of the
Amorites had not been able to protect their worshipers. Because of
their debasing sins, that wicked nation had been destroyed, and the
good land which they once possessed had been given to God’s people.
What folly for Israel to choose the deities for whose worship the
Amorites had been destroyed!
“As for me and my house,” said Joshua, “we will serve Jehovah.”
The same holy zeal that inspired the leader’s heart was communicated
to the people. His appeals called forth the unhesitating response, “God
forbid that we should forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods.”
Before there could be any permanent reformation, the people must
feel their utter inability in themselves to render obedience to God.
While they trusted their own righteousness, it was impossible for them
to secure pardon; they could not meet the claims of God’s perfect law,
and it was in vain that they pledged themselves to serve God. Only by
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faith in Christ could they secure pardon of sin and receive strength to
obey God’s law. They must trust wholly in the merits of the promised
Saviour.
With deep earnestness they once more reiterated their pledge of
loyalty: “The Lord our God will we serve, and His voice will we obey.”
“So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them
a statute and an ordinance in Shechem... . So Joshua let the people
depart, every man unto his inheritance.”
His work was done. He had “wholly followed the Lord.” The
noblest testimony to his character as a leader is the history of the
generation that had enjoyed his labors: “Israel served the Lord all the
days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua.”
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