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"Before You Promise" After Moses died, leadership for the people of God fell to Joshua who took them on into the promised land. Joshua was a different type of leader than Moses. Joshua would lead the people through many battles, and conquests, and would eventually see to it that the people would be divided into tribes according to each son of Jacob—land for the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Gad, Reuben, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan, and Joseph, with provisions for the Levites, descendants of the priests. Whenever everyone was settled, with land and provisions, Joshua settled into the role of inter-tribal judge, settling conflicts and disputes. When Joshua was very old, having reached 110 years old, and had led the people for these many many years in their new homeland, he called all the tribes together and he speaks his last words to them, just before he dies. This is the passage we read today. After reminding them of the many ways the Lord God has provided for the people, has given them all they have, has cared for them, fought for them and poured out blessings upon them, old Joshua tells them they have a choice to make. “If you are unwilling to serve the Lord,” Joshua tells them. “Choose today who you will serve.” The people have a choice. They could serve the Lord who provided for their ancestors through the wilderness and delivered them from slavery into this promised home land, or they could serve the trinket carvings they had brought from Egypt. Or, even the household gods of the Amorites whom they conquered to possess this new land flowing with milk and honey. “As for me and my household,” Joshua tell them, “we will serve the Lord!” Bob Dylan, the folk rocker of the 60’s, later in life discovered a new spiritual awareness in his life and penned the words to his famous classic, “You Gotta Serve Somebody”
You may be an
ambassador to England or France,
The song goes on with it’s descriptive contrasts: You might be a rock n’ roller, a business person, a thief, a doctor, a state trooper, a young turk, rich, poor, blind, lame, a construction worker, a landlord, a tenant, a banker, a gun owner, a preacher, a city councilman, a barber, a mistress, an hier.
Indeed, we all not only must serve somebody, or some thing, but in
essence, we all do. We either serve the Lord who has chosen us, served us, or
we serve someone or something else. But as for me and my house, Joshua says, “make no mistake. We will serve the Lord.” And the people, the tribes are quick in their response: “We will too!” IF I asked today, how many of you would stand up to make your decision as to whether or not you would serve the Lord, I imagine you each would rise to your feet if you are able to do so. We too would be quick to reply, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve another god.” But Joshua wants to make sure they know what they are promising. “You cannot serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. If you promise to serve the Lord and then forsake him to turn toward foreign gods, then he will turn, and do you harm, and consume you, even after having done you good.” The people say, “No! We will serve the Lord.”
You hear what’s going on? The people are saying, “we will serve
the Lord,” and Joshua is saying, “Really? Will you? Always? Are you certain
you know what you are promising?” And Joshua still isn’t sure. “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord to serve him.” Joshua is saying, “if you turn away, if you forget, if you do not put God first, there are others here who heard you make the promise! You are witnesses against yourselves.” And the people respond, “We are witnesses.” And so Joshua says to them, “Then put out the foreign gods that are among you and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” In other words, “take out your trash, and from now one, only God will receive your full allegiance.” And the people said, “The LORD is our God, whom we will serve, and him we will obey.” Joshua wanted to make sure they knew what they were promising. “Before you promise,” he seems to be saying, “know what it is you are promising.” In visiting with the Monday prayer group, I said that perhaps I needed to be a bit more like Joshua when we had new members join the church, and make their profession of faith. We ask a number of questions during that time, and people make all sorts of promises. “Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?” “I do.” “You understand, repent means turn away from sin and evil? You’ll turn away?” “I will.” “Do you accept the freedom and power God give you to resist evil, injustice and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?” “I do.” “With freedom and power comes choice, and will you resist evil and injustice and oppression in all your choices?” “Yes.” “Even if it means giving up your own comfort, your own abundance?” “…I will.” “Do you confess Jesus as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as Lord in union with the church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations and races?” “I do.” “I said your ‘whole trust.’ All of it. Everything.” “Yes.” “According to the grace given to you, will you remain a faithful member of Christ’s holy church and serve as Christ’s representative in the world?” “I will.” “But really, will you?” “I will.” “You know people here heard you--there are witnesses?” “I understand. There are witnesses.” “Will you be supportive of this congregation with your prayers, your presence, your gifts and your service?” “I will.” “Really?” “Yes” “With your prayers?” “Yes.” “With your presence. You’ll be here at worship each week?” “Yes.” “With your gifts? When we ask you to help, use your talents, you’ll say yes?” “Yes.” “Before you promise, I want you to think about this.” “I have.” “Your gifts?” “My gifts.” “Even if we encourage tithing?” “Even if.” “Are you sure?” “Yes.” “And your service?” “I will.” “Even when service is not always rewarded?” “Yes.” “Even when service is uncomfortable?” “I will.” “Before you promise, I just want to make sure. I would rather you not make a promise, than to promise and not be solemn and truthful about it. Are you truly ready to make such a promise?” “I am.” Can you imagine? Joshua wanted to make absolutely certain the people were prepared to live out their promise, to live out the choice they made. “Put away your foreign gods, and incline your hearts then to the Lord, your God.” “Will you do that? Will you? Before you make your promise, be sure. Will you?”
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