Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Joshua
Book: Joshua
Chapter: 24
Overview:
God's benefits to their fathers.
(1-14) Joshua renews the
Covenant between the people and
God.
(15-28) Joshua's
Death,
Joseph's bones buried, The state of
Israel.
(29-33)
1-14 We must never think our work for
God done, till our
Life
is done. If he lengthen out our days
Beyond what we expected,
like those of
Joshua, it is because he has some further service
for us to do. He who aims at the same mind which was in
Christ
Jesus, will
Glory in bearing the last
Testimony to his
Saviour's
Goodness, and in telling to all around, the obligations with
which the unmerited
Goodness of God has bound him. The assembly
came together in a solemn religious manner.
Joshua spake to them
in
God's name, and as from him. His sermon consists of doctrine
and application. The doctrinal part is a history of the great
things
God had done for his people, and for their fathers before
them. The application of this history of
God's mercies to them,
is an exhortation to fear and serve
God, in gratitude for his
favour, and that it might be continued.
15-28 It is essential that the service of
God's people be
performed with a willing mind. For
Love is the only genuine
principle whence all acceptable service of
God can
Spring. The
Father seeks only such to
Worship him, as
Worship him in
Spirit
and in
Truth. The
Carnal mind of
Man is
Enmity against
God,
therefore, is not capable of such spiritual
Worship. Hence the
necessity of being born again. But
Numbers Rest in mere forms,
as tasks imposed upon them.
Joshua puts them to their choice;
but not as if it were indifferent whether they served
God or
not. Choose you whom ye will serve, now the matter is laid
plainly before you. He resolves to do this, whatever others did.
Those that are bound for
Heaven, must be willing to swim against
the stream. They must not do as the most do, but as the best do.
And
No one can behave himself as he ought in any station, who
does not deeply consider his religious duties in family
relations. The Israelites agree with
Joshua, being influenced
By
the
Example of a
Man who had been
So great a blessing to them;
We also will serve the
Lord. See how much good great men do,
By
their influence, if zealous in religion.
Joshua brings them to
express full purpose of
Heart to cleave to the
Lord. They must
come off from all confidence in their own sufficiency, else
their purposes would be in vain. The service of
God being made
their deliberate choice,
Joshua binds them to it
By a solemn
Covenant. He set up a monument of it. In this affecting manner
Joshua took his last leave of them; if they perished, their
Blood would be upon their own heads. Though the
House of
God,
the
Lord's table, and even the walls and trees before which we
have uttered our solemn purposes of serving him, would
Bear
Witness against us if we deny him, yet we may trust in him, that
he will
Put his fear into our hearts, that we shall not depart
from him.
God alone can give
Grace, yet he blesses our
endeavours to engage men to his service.
29-33 Joseph died in
Egypt, but gave commandment concerning his
bones, that they should not
Rest in their
Grave till
Israel had
Rest in the land of promise. Notice also the
Death and
Burial of
Joshua, and of
Eleazar the chief
Priest. The most useful men,
having served their
Generation, according to the will of
God,
one after another, fall asleep and see corruption. But
Jesus,
having spent and ended his
Life On Earth more effectually than
either
Joshua or
Joseph,
Rose from the dead, and saw
No
corruption. And the redeemed of the
Lord shall inherit the
kingdom he prepared for them from the foundation of the world.
They will say in admiration of the
Grace of
Jesus, Unto him that
loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own
Blood, and hath
made us
Kings and priests unto
God and his
Father, to him be
Glory and dominion for ever and ever.
Amen.