15 and if wrong in your eyes to serve Jehovah—choose for you to-day whom ye do serve;—whether the gods whom your fathers served, which 'are' beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorite in whose land ye are dwelling; and I and my house—we serve Jehovah.' 16 And the people answer and say, 'Far be it from us to forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods; 17 for Jehovah our God 'is' He who is bringing us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a house of servants, and who hath done before our eyes these great signs, and doth keep us in all the way in which we have gone, and among all the peoples through whose midst we passed; 18 and Jehovah casteth out the whole of the peoples, even the Amorite inhabiting the land, from our presence; we also do serve Jehovah, for He 'is' our God.' 19 And Joshua saith unto the people, 'Ye are not able to serve Jehovah, for a God most holy He 'is'; a zealous God He 'is'; He doth not bear with your transgression and with your sins. 20 When ye forsake Jehovah, and have served gods of a stranger, then He hath turned back and done evil to you, and consumed you, after that He hath done good to you.' 21 And the people saith unto Joshua, 'No, but Jehovah we do serve.' 22 And Joshua saith unto the people, 'Witnesses ye are against yourselves, that ye have chosen for you Jehovah to serve Him (and they say, 'Witnesses!') 23 and, now, turn aside the gods of the stranger which 'are' in your midst, and incline your heart unto Jehovah, God of Israel.' 24 And the people say unto Joshua, 'Jehovah our God we serve, and to His voice we hearken.' 25 And Joshua maketh a covenant with the people on that day, and layeth on it a statute and an ordinance, in Shechem. 26 And Joshua writeth these words in the Book of the Law of God, and taketh a great stone, and raiseth it up there under the oak which 'is' in the sanctuary of Jehovah. 27 And Joshua saith unto all the people, 'Lo, this stone is against us for a witness, for it hath heard all the sayings of Jehovah which He hath spoken with us, and it hath been against you for a witness, lest ye lie against your God.' 28 And Joshua sendeth the people away, each to his inheritance.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 24:15-28
Commentary on Joshua 24:15-28
(Read Joshua 24:15-28)
It is essential that the service of God's people be performed with a willing mind. For LOVE is the only genuine principle whence all acceptable service of God can spring. The Father seeks only such to worship him, as worship him in spirit and in truth. The carnal mind of man is enmity against God, therefore, is not capable of such spiritual worship. Hence the necessity of being born again. But numbers rest in mere forms, as tasks imposed upon them. Joshua puts them to their choice; but not as if it were indifferent whether they served God or not. Choose you whom ye will serve, now the matter is laid plainly before you. He resolves to do this, whatever others did. Those that are bound for heaven, must be willing to swim against the stream. They must not do as the most do, but as the best do. And no one can behave himself as he ought in any station, who does not deeply consider his religious duties in family relations. The Israelites agree with Joshua, being influenced by the example of a man who had been so great a blessing to them; We also will serve the Lord. See how much good great men do, by their influence, if zealous in religion. Joshua brings them to express full purpose of heart to cleave to the Lord. They must come off from all confidence in their own sufficiency, else their purposes would be in vain. The service of God being made their deliberate choice, Joshua binds them to it by a solemn covenant. He set up a monument of it. In this affecting manner Joshua took his last leave of them; if they perished, their blood would be upon their own heads. Though the house of God, the Lord's table, and even the walls and trees before which we have uttered our solemn purposes of serving him, would bear witness against us if we deny him, yet we may trust in him, that he will put his fear into our hearts, that we shall not depart from him. God alone can give grace, yet he blesses our endeavours to engage men to his service.