Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.
Joshua 23:11 belongs to Joshua's final address to Israel, delivered after the wars of conquest had ended and the Lord had given the people rest from their enemies. In that address God's providential care is reviewed in order to lead Israel to gratitude and to humility over past failures to follow God's revealed will. The verse is part of Joshua's charge and stands as an example of revival among God's ancient people. It commands Israel to take careful heed to themselves by loving the Lord their God, meaning loyalty to God must be carefully guarded.
This love for God requires avoiding idolatry and the people who practice it: Israel must not join with the remaining Canaanite nations through friendly relations, intermarry with them, or expose itself to their corrupting influence, avoiding even the borders of sin. If Israel turned back in this way it would be drawn into idolatry. God would then stop driving those nations out, they would become snares and afflictions, and ultimately drive Israel from the land, bringing ruin and desolation, for Israel's protection and victory depended on remaining faithful to God.
God is faithful both to fulfill His promises and to carry out His threats and warnings. The warning applies personally as well as to Israel: love for God calls for vigilant care against influences that lead away from Him, since leaving God leads to ruin.
Joshua 23:11 belongs to Joshua's final address to Israel, delivered after the wars of conquest had ended and the Lord had given the people rest from their enemies. In that address God's providential care is reviewed in order to lead Israel to gratitude and to humility over past failures to follow God's revealed will. The verse is part of Joshua's charge and stands as an example of revival among God's ancient people. It commands Israel to take careful heed to themselves by loving the Lord their God, meaning loyalty to God must be carefully guarded.
This love for God requires avoiding idolatry and the people who practice it: Israel must not join with the remaining Canaanite nations through friendly relations, intermarry with them, or expose itself to their corrupting influence, avoiding even the borders of sin. If Israel turned back in this way it would be drawn into idolatry. God would then stop driving those nations out, they would become snares and afflictions, and ultimately drive Israel from the land, bringing ruin and desolation, for Israel's protection and victory depended on remaining faithful to God.
God is faithful both to fulfill His promises and to carry out His threats and warnings. The warning applies personally as well as to Israel: love for God calls for vigilant care against influences that lead away from Him, since leaving God leads to ruin.