Matthew Henry Commentary Joshua 23
Matthew Henry Commentary
Joshua 23
Matthew Henry Commentary
Joshua 23
"And it came to pass after many days, when Jehovah had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well stricken in years; that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads, and for their judges and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and well stricken in years: and ye have seen all that Jehovah your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for Jehovah your God, he it is that hath fought for you. Behold, I have allotted unto you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun. And Jehovah your God, he will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as Jehovah your God spake unto you. Therefore be ye very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; that ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves unto them; but cleave unto Jehovah your God, as ye have done unto this day. For Jehovah hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath stood before you unto this day. One man of you shall chase a thousand; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he spake unto you." — Joshua 23:1-10 (ASV)
Joshua was old and dying, and he urged them to pay close attention to what he then said. He reminded them of the great things God had done for them during his lifetime. He exhorted them to be very courageous.
They were to keep with care, act with diligence, and regard with sincerity what is written. They were also to strive very cautiously so that heathen idolatry would be forgotten and never revived.
It is sad that among Christians the names of heathen gods are so commonly used and made so familiar as they are.
Joshua exhorted them to be very constant. There might have been many things wrong among them, but they had not forsaken the Lord their God. The way to make people better is to make the best of them.
"Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love Jehovah your God. Else if ye do at all go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you; know for a certainty that Jehovah your God will no more drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap unto you, and a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which Jehovah your God hath given you. And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which Jehovah your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, not one thing hath failed thereof. And it shall come to pass, that as all the good things are come upon you of which Jehovah your God spake unto you, so will Jehovah bring upon you all the evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which Jehovah your God hath given you. When ye transgress the covenant of Jehovah your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them; then will the anger of Jehovah be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you." — Joshua 23:11-16 (ASV)
If we would cleave to the Lord, we must always stand on our guard, for many a soul is lost through carelessness. Love the Lord your God, and you will not leave him. Has God been so true to you? Do not be false to him.
He is faithful that has promised (Hebrews 10:23). The experience of every Christian bears witness to the same truth. Conflicts may have been severe and long, trials great and many; but in the end he will acknowledge that goodness and mercy followed him all the days of his life. Joshua states the fatal consequences of going back; know for certain it will be your ruin.
The first step would be friendship with idolaters; the next would be marrying them; the end of that would be serving their gods. Thus the way of sin is downhill, and those who have fellowship with sinners cannot avoid having fellowship with sin. He describes the destruction he warns them of. The goodness of the heavenly Canaan, and the free and sure grant God has made of it, will add to the misery of those who will forever be shut out from it.
Nothing will make them see how wretched they are so much as to see how happy they might have been. Let us watch and pray against temptation. Let us trust in God's faithfulness, love, and power; let us plead his promises and cleave to his commandments, then we will be happy in life, in death, and forever.
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