I did not reference the Matthew passage. In my original thoughts on the sermon, I was going to add a section on making the commitment now before it's too late, but the sermon seemed to develop without that point being added. We had a good day of worship with the kids' choir singing, a baptism, and recognition of new members, all of which tend to make the sermon work better -- the better the overall worship, the better the sermon.
I should have worked the Colonel Travis illustration better -- I stumbled though it, and it should have flowed. I liked this sermon's content, but was not as polished as I would have liked in the presentation. I did have an error (at least one member caught it) - I noted that "statute and ordinance" in vs. 25 of Joshua is singular in the original "Greek," even though Joshua was written in Hebrew. not sure how I made that mistake. I actually referenced the information from a Bible commentary, so i wrote the info down wrong and did not catch it (the person who caught also shared with me that in the King James translation, it is singular).
I am out of town next Sunday, so no sermon preparation this week or reflection next Monday.
“Crossing the Line” St. Andrew; November 12, 2017; Joshua 24: 14-25; Mathew 25: 1-13
“Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; 17 for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18 and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”
19 But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.” 21 And the people said to Joshua, “No, we will serve the Lord!” 22 Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” 23 He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
24 The people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and him we will obey.” 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem. 26 Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a large stone, and set it up there under the oak in the sanctuary of the Lord. 27 Joshua said to all the people, “See, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us; therefore it shall be a witness against you, if you deal falsely with your God.” 28 So Joshua sent the people away to their inheritances.
Introduction: biblical scholarship can really help us understand bible passages.
for example, biblical scholars would note Joshua begins with God speaking to Joshua in Chapter 1 and finishes with God speaking to the Israelites through Joshua in the last chapter. Gives us a context to understand Joshua’s role and the position he holds as he makes this speech to the Israelites who have gathered at Shechem.
Or biblical scholars point out how earlier in chapter, Joshua has used a prophetic phrase, “thus says the Lord your God…” It might remind us that even though Joshua is considered a book of history, it has a prophetic voice as well.
Biblical scholarship can be helpful.
But I always thought the best way to understand this story in Joshua was found in the 4th and 7th grade TX history classes.
In those classes you learn about the Alamo, if you hadn’t already.
You learn the story of Colonel William Barrett Travis gathering all the soldiers who were in the Alamo on what legend has the night before the fateful attack by the Mexican army under Santa Anna.
Travis told the soldiers that if they chose to say in the Alamo, they would die. He then drew a line in the dirt and invited anyone who wanted to stay with him and die in battle protecting the Alamo to cross the line.
All but two walked across the line. Jim bowie had to be carried across in a cot; Louis Rose, a French soldier of fortune did not cross the line and instead slipped out of the Alamo that night and escaped.
The powerful image of Travis inviting people to cross the line reminds me of Joshua, standing before God’s people and inviting them to step forward in faith, or go on their merry way.
A few reasons why the Israelites might choose to step forward in faith.
Colonel William Barrett Fannin gathers the troops together tt
Move 1: Step forward in faith because they know God.
a. As the Israelites choose to commit to serving God, they recite all the things God has done for them.
1. god brought them out of slavery in Egypt.
2. God did great signs for them.
3. God protected them from their enemies.
4. God drove out those who lived in the Promised Land so they could lay claim to the Promised Land.
5. In summary, God has claimed them, loved them, and given them new life.
b. this image of God is in contrast to the what the people might have expected from a Lord or master in their time.
1. Masters who acted erratically and impulsively, whose only concern was how those who served could meet the master’s needs (New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol II, 716).
2. Masters who had power and used power their own sake, not for the sake of their servants.
3. Gods with high expectations of what people should sacrifice and give for the sake of the gods.
4. The God of Israel is a different God, a God who acts with love to save them.
5. he kind of God they can cross the line to follow.
Move 2: Stepping forward in faith is a commitment.
a. Language about God being a jealous God.
1. We do uotknow what to do with that language.
2. Seems odd.
3. Not about God being jealous of other gods, but God demanding total commitment.
4. A hen a pig strolled down the avenue. The hen looked up at a huge billboard advertising ham and eggs. “Look at those magnificent fried eggs with the orange yellow yolks,” said the hen. “Look at the fried ham,” said the pig. After a moment the pig spoke: “For you, those eggs are a small gift, but for me, the ham is a total commitment.”
b. Notice when the Israelites rush to say they will serve God, Joshua stops them.
1. “No, no, you cannot do this.”
2. Joshua knows this is a big deal.
3. Giving their lives to God is a huge commitment.
Move 3. Stepping forward in faith is also stepping away
a. The Israelites have to give up the other gods.
1. Many scholars believe Chapter 24 written during the time of exile.
2. In exile they see in full display the many other gods people to which people turn.
3. they also have to turn away from despair.
4. Hopelessness.
b. Bring this story to our context - what do we have to turn away from in our lives?
1. What are you going to do with the God who demands all of you?
2. Maybe that’s why Joshua tries to talk them out of making their commitment.
c. In original Hebrew, the “statutes and ordinances” in vs. 25 is actually singular.
1. Only one statute matters.
2. the Israelites know that statute: “I am the Lord you God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. You shall have no other gods before you” (Joshua, Judges and Ruth, Carolyn Pressler, Westminster Bible Commentary, 122).
Stepping forward to cross line to serve God moves turning away from lots of other options in our wold.
Conclusion: Travis drew a line in the dirt and invited those in the Alamo to cross and die for their cause.
Joshua invites the Israelites, invites you, to cross the line, not to die, but to have new life.
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