Joshua 24:27
And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God. And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.
The verse belongs to Joshua's closing address to all Israel, called together after the Lord had given them rest from their enemies, when his faithful life of steadfast integrity and service as the visible leader was ending. In that gathering near the end of his life he reviewed Israel's history to lead the people to gratitude for God's care and humility over their failures to follow His will. He led them in revival and renewal of their covenant with their Maker, and wrote what he had said in the book of the law.
He then set up a great stone under an oak by the sanctuary of the Lord at Shechem as a memorial of God's dealings with His people. The stone was to stand as a witness that had heard all the words the Lord had spoken, against their denying their God. It memorialized the people's covenant pledge and solemn choice of Jehovah to serve Him and obey His voice. That choice included putting away the strange gods among them and inclining their hearts to the Lord God of Israel, so that having heard God's words they became witnesses against themselves and could not deny their God.
The surrounding appeal warned against idolatry and corrupting ties with idolaters, including intermarriage, urging them to shun even the appearance of evil. Such ties would corrupt them, departure from God would bring desolation, and God would fulfill both His promises and His warnings. Joshua's loyal, faithful, ringing testimony closed his life to be a light to Israel. But after he and the old faithful sentinels who had crossed Jordan died one by one, a new generation unaccustomed to the bread from heaven forgot its experience, departed from God, and corrupted worship with erroneous principles, haughty pride, and love of display.
The chapter records a revival to be read carefully and with an understanding heart by all who name the name of Christ while searching their own hearts whether they are in the faith. Its warning against departure from God is to be applied personally.