Renew Your Commitment to God
Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. . . . an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the LORD burnt offerings . . .
There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses.
All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the LORD, facing the Levitical priests who carried it.
. . . Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law -- the blessings and the curses -- just as it is written in the Book of the Law.
There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them. Joshua 8:30-35
There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses.
All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the LORD, facing the Levitical priests who carried it.
. . . Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law -- the blessings and the curses -- just as it is written in the Book of the Law.
There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them. Joshua 8:30-35
Before Moses died, he took the time to read the entire Law of God to the Israelites. He concluded by saying, ". . . I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live . . . (Deuteronomy 30:19). Moses knew that following God's word was a choice of life but rejecting God's word was death. He urged them to choose life.
God had exalted Joshua in the eyes of Israel by parting the Jordan, causing the wall of Jericho to tumble down and giving them victory over Ai. Joshua's response to those divine accomplishments was to build an altar to the LORD and renew Israel's covenant with God by reading the Law of God that Moses had read earlier to them.
Joshua did not want the Israelites to forget that their destiny was directly tied to obeying God's word. So, he assembled the entire community to renew their covenant relationship with God by reading the entire Law. He reminded them of the blessings and curses associated with God's word. Native Israelis, as well as foreigners and children, were all reminded of the Law.
Renewing our commitment to God by refreshing our minds through the reading of His word is a healthy spiritual thing to do. We must continually reflect on God's word to ensure that we are following the path of life. God relates to us through His Holy Spirit and His written word. Reading God's word reminds us of what God expects of us but it also helps renew our commitment to live by His word. Renew your commitment by renewing your mind in His word.
God had exalted Joshua in the eyes of Israel by parting the Jordan, causing the wall of Jericho to tumble down and giving them victory over Ai. Joshua's response to those divine accomplishments was to build an altar to the LORD and renew Israel's covenant with God by reading the Law of God that Moses had read earlier to them.
Joshua did not want the Israelites to forget that their destiny was directly tied to obeying God's word. So, he assembled the entire community to renew their covenant relationship with God by reading the entire Law. He reminded them of the blessings and curses associated with God's word. Native Israelis, as well as foreigners and children, were all reminded of the Law.
Renewing our commitment to God by refreshing our minds through the reading of His word is a healthy spiritual thing to do. We must continually reflect on God's word to ensure that we are following the path of life. God relates to us through His Holy Spirit and His written word. Reading God's word reminds us of what God expects of us but it also helps renew our commitment to live by His word. Renew your commitment by renewing your mind in His word.
Prayer: Father, in the busyness of daily living, it is rather easy for me to overlook the things you require of me. Please help me to develop the discipline of continually renewing my mind in your word. Amen.