And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.
The verse belongs to Joshua's closing gathering of Israel after the wars of conquest when the Lord had given them rest from their enemies. In that gathering he reviewed God's care for them and their failures, urging them to reject the idolatry around them and remain faithful.
Before the reply he pressed the people to weigh their words and not vow what they could not fulfill. He warned that if they forsook the Lord to serve foreign gods He would turn and harm and consume them after the good He had done. He urged them to reject the idolatry around them.
In the verse the people firmly answer no and declare they will serve the Lord. Their answer is a solemn choosing of Jehovah, repeated so that their choice stands as a witness against themselves. They add the pledge to obey His voice.
Afterward they are called to put away the foreign gods among them and incline their hearts to the Lord God of Israel. A covenant is made with them, and a stone is set up as a witness to their words so they will not deny their God.
The pledge is spoken while Joshua is still with them as loyal and faithful testimony and light, before his life of steadfast integrity closes. It comes before the old faithful sentinels who crossed the Jordan lay down their armor one by one, and before a new generation arises unaccustomed to the bread from heaven. Once those steadfast souls pass away and their experience is forgotten, the nation in departing from God corrupts itself and its worship is mingled with erroneous principles, haughty pride, and love of display.
The warning teaches that serving God requires avoiding close ties and situations that could corrupt faith, and that turning away from God brings ruin. That lesson applies to each person. The account records a revival among God's ancient people that all who profess Christ should read carefully with an understanding heart while searching their own hearts whether they are in the faith.
The verse belongs to Joshua's closing gathering of Israel after the wars of conquest when the Lord had given them rest from their enemies. In that gathering he reviewed God's care for them and their failures, urging them to reject the idolatry around them and remain faithful.
Before the reply he pressed the people to weigh their words and not vow what they could not fulfill. He warned that if they forsook the Lord to serve foreign gods He would turn and harm and consume them after the good He had done. He urged them to reject the idolatry around them.
In the verse the people firmly answer no and declare they will serve the Lord. Their answer is a solemn choosing of Jehovah, repeated so that their choice stands as a witness against themselves. They add the pledge to obey His voice.
Afterward they are called to put away the foreign gods among them and incline their hearts to the Lord God of Israel. A covenant is made with them, and a stone is set up as a witness to their words so they will not deny their God.
The pledge is spoken while Joshua is still with them as loyal and faithful testimony and light, before his life of steadfast integrity closes. It comes before the old faithful sentinels who crossed the Jordan lay down their armor one by one, and before a new generation arises unaccustomed to the bread from heaven. Once those steadfast souls pass away and their experience is forgotten, the nation in departing from God corrupts itself and its worship is mingled with erroneous principles, haughty pride, and love of display.
The warning teaches that serving God requires avoiding close ties and situations that could corrupt faith, and that turning away from God brings ruin. That lesson applies to each person. The account records a revival among God's ancient people that all who profess Christ should read carefully with an understanding heart while searching their own hearts whether they are in the faith.