Joshua 8 (6)

Now Joshua built an altar to the LORD God of Israel in Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings. And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them. Joshua 8.30-35

Reflect.
1.  More symbols! Why do these symbols matter so much? 

2.  Two different kinds of offerings are mentioned. What’s the difference? How does each point to the work of Christ?

Think about it.
Israel has just achieved a major victory in her campaign to claim the land of promise. But more than that, the nation is back on course with the Lord, and they celebrate that fact in a most symbolic manner. But this celebration is not quite what God had commanded.

You might want to review Deuteronomy 27.1-8. Note especially the wording in verse 2, “on the day when you cross over the Jordan…” Ah, now we see why the fiasco of Jericho and Ai occurred. Joshua had made sure the people were circumcised, since they were about to undertake a new phase of their lives in God’s covenant. And he took them through the Passover, as he should have done. But he failed to carry out this detail which Moses and the elders of Israel had explicitly commanded. Thus, the people went into battle against Jericho and Ai without having taken this important step of getting wholly on the Lord’s side, with His Law prominently before them. The act of covenant renewal carried out in these verses should have been done in conjunction with circumcision and the Passover in chapter 5. Joshua’s encounter with the Commander of the army of the Lord should have reminded him of this obligation. But though he failed in his duty, God graciously gave Israel victories at Jericho and Ai. We don’t know what jogged Joshua’s mind at this time, but suddenly he’s all on board with what should have been done days ago. It might be a matter of too little, too late.

When it comes to obeying God’s Word, details matter. Postponing obedience leads to disaster.

So now Joshua finally gets around to doing what should have been done at Gilgal, before the siege of Jericho. It’s not clear how much of the Law was written on those stones – probably just the Ten Commandments. Later, with all Israel assembled between the two mountains, Joshua read “all the words of the law” to them…according to all that is written in the Book of the Law.” This may refer to the book of Deuteronomy, which, as its name suggests, was the “second giving” of the Law of God, and thus, we may assume, the definitive version. Deuteronomy does not eliminate all the laws given in Exodus through Numbers. Instead, it clarifies those laws and puts them into a different setting – the land of promise as opposed to the wilderness. The principle here is that God adjusts His covenant to meet the changes in the situation of His people, but when He does so, He does not eliminate older laws so much as upgrade and improve them (think: upgrades to your computer’s operating system).

Joshua faithfully read the Law “before all the assembly of Israel.” Well done. But, as we shall see, the fact that this was done almost as an afterthought, rather than as the first priority after crossing the Jordan, will make an impression, if only at a subconscious level, on all the people: It’s good to obey the Law of God, whenever we get around to it.

Meditate and discuss.
1.  What makes this renewal of God’s covenant especially significant? What does it add to that renewal that circumcision and the Passover did not entail? What do we learn from all these exercises in renewal about the relationship between grace and Law in our covenant with God?

2.  Does it matter if we obey God on His terms, rather than at our convenience? Explain.  

3.  What does it mean that the priests and Levites stood to “bless the people of Israel” (v. 33) as part of this covenant ceremony? What would that blessing have involved? Why does God bless His people (Ps. 67.1, 2)?

It is said that Joshua stood that he might first bless the people, as it was the purpose of God to allure the people to himself by sweetness and winning condescension. For although Moses, to rebuke the obstinacy of the people, makes mention of curses only, it is certain that these were in a manner accidental, because the genuine method was to employ blessings as a means of gaining over to obedience those who might otherwise have proved refractory. But when humane invitation proved unavailing, curses were added as a new resource and remedy.” John Calvin, Commentary on Joshua (1509-1564 AD)

Lord, keep me from trying to obey Your Word on my terms, according to my convenience, rather than according to Your Word and Your timetable.. Help me every day to…

Pray Psalm 44.9-19.
We languish in our walk with the Lord to the extent that we take our eyes off Him, turn away from His Word, and strike out (literally) on our own. Let these verses lead you to a new resolve to remember the Lord always, to fix your soul firmly within His covenant, and walk with Him in all you do.

Psalm 44.9-18, 23-26 (Faithfulness: Great is Thy Faithfulness)
Ah, but for now in dishonor we languish.
Our armies quail while our enemies boast.
We are as spoil to our foes who despise us; 
God has forsaken those He loves the most.
Refrain vv. 23-26 
Rise up, awake, O Lord! Hide not Your face from us, 
See our affliction, our suffering and pain!
See how our soul is sunk down with oppression; 
Rise up and help and redeem us we pray!

Sold into sin and reproached by our neighbors, 
You do not profit from our woeful state.
Shame and dishonor o’erwhelm and consume us; 
Mocking and scorn for our sin is our fate.
Refrain

All this has come on us, but we remember:
You are our covenant God and our King!
Turn back our hearts to adore and extol You; 
Lord, keep our steps as Your praises we sing.
Refrain

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).