RPG Adults
JOSHUA AND ISRAEL RENEWED THE COVENANT
LORD’S DAY, NOVEMBER 5
Joshua 8:30-35
Nehemiah 8:1-8
“So they read in the book
in the law of God distinctly,
and gave the sense…”
JOSHUA AND ISRAEL RENEWED THE COVENANT
In facing such a task as Israel had, God must affirm every move, and the people had to be right with Him. Any sin is incompatible with God’s presence among them. Sacrifices were thus needed as the external remedy for sins. It is God Himself who forgives but repentance and offering were needed on the part of man. Joshua was conversant with all these needs and he led Israel to fulfil their part. Everything had to be done right, in accordance with God’s instruction.
The people concerned took part in this covenant. Joshua wrote upon a stone a copy of the Law of Moses. The treatment and use of the written Word of God demonstrated its importance from that early time. It will be remembered that in the early part of this book, God told Joshua that this book of the Law should not depart out of his mouth but he should meditate on it day and night (Josh 1:8). That was how he was going to be blessed and to greatly advance. When he copied the words onto the stones, he was aware of the value of those words and he wanted to magnify them before all Israel. Therefore, he wrote in their presence. It is not known how many of them were literate and able to read the words of the book. However, all of them could hear when the book was read. They understood that what God had said was final and was prescribed to them to learn by heart.
At that time all Israel (elders and officers and judges) stood on one side of the Ark of the Covenant. On the other side were priests and Levites who bore the Ark of the Covenant of God. The strangers who were born among them also took part. This followed the instruction given by Moses (Deut 31:12), and Joshua obeyed it in this first worship in the Land of Canaan. They stood in equal number upon Mt Ebal and Mt Gerizim (Deut 11:29; 27:11-26). They recited the blessings and the cursings that were written in the Law. Joshua was conversant with the Law, and he put them to the appointed use. The book of the Law was the voice of God.
THOUGHT: The Law of God is here to stay through all generations.
PRAYER: Father, may Thy Law ever be my guide to obey Thee.