Joshua 23:6-11: a reflection

6“Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you not turn away from it to the right hand or to the left; 7that you not come among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them; 8but hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. 9“For the LORD has driven great and strong nations out from before you. But as for you, no man has stood before you to this day. 10One man of you shall chase a thousand; for it is the LORD your God who fights for you, as he spoke to you. 11Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God.

In his farewell charge to Israel, Joshua presses one thing above all: to hold fast to the LORD. Be very courageous to keep the law, he says, not turning aside from it; do not mix with the surrounding nations or their gods, but hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. The heart of his charge is this: cleave to the LORD, cling to him alone, not letting your devotion be divided or drawn away to other gods. Take good heed, he says, to love the LORD your God.

Notice the heart of Joshua's charge: hold fast to the LORD, cleaving to him alone. He warns against being drawn aside to the gods of the surrounding nations, against dividing their devotion; and he calls them to hold fast, to cling, to the LORD their God alone. The word is one of cleaving, holding tightly, not letting go or being drawn away. Their safety and their faithfulness lay in holding fast to the LORD, clinging to him alone, rather than letting their devotion be divided or drawn to other gods. Cleaving to God alone was the heart of it.

That charge to hold fast to God is worth taking to heart, for we too can be drawn aside, our devotion divided or pulled away. There are many things that would draw our devotion away from God, dividing our hearts, pulling us toward other loyalties, as the surrounding nations' gods drew Israel; and we are called, like Israel, to hold fast to the LORD, cleaving to him alone. Do not let your devotion be drawn aside or divided among other loyalties; hold fast to the LORD your God, clinging to him alone, as Joshua charged Israel. Cleave to God, holding tightly to him and not letting go or being drawn away, keeping your devotion undivided and fixed on him, as Joshua urged Israel to hold fast to the LORD their God as they had done, taking good heed to love him and not be drawn aside to other gods.

Lord, in his farewell charge to Israel, Joshua presses one thing above all: to hold fast to you. Be very courageous to keep the law, he says, not turning aside from it; do not mix with the surrounding nations or their gods, but hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. The heart of his charge is this: cleave to you, cling to you alone, not letting your devotion be divided or drawn away. Take good heed, he says, to love the LORD your God. Show me the heart of Joshua's charge: hold fast to you, cleaving to you alone. He warns against being drawn aside to the gods of the surrounding nations, against dividing their devotion; and he calls them to cling to you alone. The word is one of cleaving, holding tightly, not letting go. Their safety and faithfulness lay in holding fast to you, rather than letting their devotion be divided. Take that charge to my heart, for I too can be drawn aside, my devotion divided or pulled away. There are many things that would draw my devotion away from you, dividing my heart, pulling me toward other loyalties; and I am called, like Israel, to hold fast to you, cleaving to you alone. Keep me from letting my devotion be drawn aside or divided among other loyalties; help me hold fast to you, my God, clinging to you alone, Lord, as Joshua charged Israel. Help me cleave to you, holding tightly and not letting go or being drawn away, keeping my devotion undivided and fixed on you.