“But the people answered Joshua, “No, we will serve the Lord!” 22 “You are a witness to your own decision,” Joshua said. “You have chosen to serve the Lord.” “Yes,” they replied, “we are witnesses to what we have said.” 23 “All right then,” Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” 24 The people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone.” 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day at Shechem, committing them to follow the decrees and regulations of the Lord. 26 Joshua recorded these things in the Book of God’s Instructions. As a reminder of their agreement, he took a huge stone and rolled it beneath the terebinth tree beside the Tabernacle of the Lord. 27 Joshua said to all the people, “This stone has heard everything the Lord said to us. It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God.” Joshua 24: 21-27 NLT
Lord Almighty,
Omniscient who knows everything. The people are very insistent that in this new promised land and new promised future they will serve the Lord. So they are challenged to destroy their idols – anything they trust in that is not You Lord. Superstitions, amulets, charms, crossed fingers? And You know everything as they go forward. And a stone was placed as a witness and rolled under a terebinth tree next to their altar.
And Joshua said the stone was a witness because it had heard both sides. Your promises God and theirs. How wonderful how marvelous that now we can come to Jesus our living stone. The true witness that we can be forgiven, accepted and loved. And we are, in Him, living stones, being built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter2:5).
The other stone this reminds me of is the one that was rolled away when Jesus rose again (Luke 24:2). That too was a reminder that we serve a risen Lord. Thank You, You are our Rock, Your work is perfect: all Your ways are just. A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right are You. (Deuteronomy 32:4)
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship 2nd April 2025
Ascribe greatness to our God, the rock
His work is perfect
And all His ways are just
Ascribe greatness to our God, the rock
His work is perfect
And all His ways are just
A God of faithfulness without injustice
Good and upright is He
A God of faithfulness without injustice
Good and upright is He
Lyrics: Mary Kirkbride, Mary Lou Locke, Peter West