JOSHUA’S DYING ADVICE!

JOSHUA’S DYING ADVICE!

Josh 23:1-8 KJV

23:1 And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.

2 And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:

3 And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.

4 Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

5 And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.

6 Be ye therefore 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;

7 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 yourselves unto them:

8 But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.

          The dying advice of a man seems to give greater force than casual conversation of less urgency. Dying people don’t ordinarily discuss the weather. They don’t have the time for it. Here Joshua urges Israel to “cleave” unto the Lord.

          Cleave means “to adhere” like a wet garment clings to the skin and must be peeled away. It also means to grip tightly or grasp desperately. It is in this way we must cleave unto the Lord our God. Things held loosely may slip from our hand.

Heb 2:1 KJV

2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

Dear Lord, I have no fear of you running away from me for you have promised never to do that. I am afraid I might run from you. Let us hold each other fast and let me cling to you like a wet garment clings to the skin. AMEN