Be Strong to Keep the Law and Love the Lord
Israel must be strong in obedience and careful to love the Lord.
Joshua 23:6-11 (BSB)
6Be very strong, then, so that you can keep and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, not turning aside from it to the right or to the left.
7So you are not to associate with these nations that remain among you. You must not call on the names of their gods or swear by them, and you must not serve them or bow down to them.
8Instead, you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.
9The LORD has driven out great and powerful nations before you, and to this day no one can stand against you.
10One of you can put a thousand to flight, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as He promised.
11Therefore watch yourselves carefully, that you love the LORD your God.
What is the big idea of Joshua 23:6-11?
Israel must be strong in obedience and careful to love the Lord.
Understanding the Big Idea
Joshua urges Israel to keep Moses' law, avoid surrounding gods, and cling to the Lord in love. Strength here is covenant fidelity after the victories, not a fresh military slogan.
How does Joshua 23:6-11 point to Christ?
Joshua calls covenant Israel to obey the Law of Moses and love the Lord. The Christian gospel is not earned by perfect obedience to this speech; Jesus Christ died for sins and rose (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), and salvation is God's gift through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10). Grace calls for faithful love without confusing fruit with its saving ground.
Authorial Intent
Joshua urges Israel's leaders to keep the Law of Moses, avoid devotion to other gods, cling to the Lord, and watch carefully to love him.
Questions for Reflection
- What is Joshua asking Israel to be strong to do?
- Which worship practices does he prohibit?
- Why can one chase a thousand in his account?
- How do clinging and loving relate to the written law?
- What difference is there between obedient fruit and earning salvation?
- What changes from Strength in written-law obedience to Carefully love the Lord?
- How does Be Strong to Keep the Law and Love the Lord relate to the preceding and following units?
- Why should do not preach the one-to-a-thousand image as a guarantee of individual physical dominance.
Literary Context
Joshua 23:1-5 precedes Be Strong to Keep the Law and Love the Lord; Joshua 23:12-16 follows it. Be Strong to Keep the Law and Love the Lord serves Joshua’s continuing narrative.
Historical Context
The farewell speech addresses a people living beside remaining nations. Their future temptations include worshiping named foreign gods and abandoning the covenant instruction.
Chapter: Joshua 23
Joshua’s Farewell Charge: Hold Fast to the LORD and Do Not Turn Back
Because the LORD has kept every good promise, Israel must hold fast to Him in obedient love, knowing that His warnings are as certain as His blessings.