Put Away the Strange Gods - Joshua 24:23

In the book of Joshua, we learned how Joshua said to the people of Israel, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse twenty-three of the book of Joshua, Joshua said, “put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you” where we read, 

Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, 

and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.

The verse reads, “Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “now therefore put away” which means “at this time wherefore, then and on this account turn aside, depart, avoid and be removed from”, “said he” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed he, Joshua”, “the strange gods” which means “the foreign, alien and pagan deities” “which are among you” or “that exist in the midst and middle of you, the people of Israel”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” instructed the people of Israel to depart from and remove the foreign pagan deities that were in the midst of them.

The verse continues, “… and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and incline your heart” which means “and stretch out, extend and bend your, the people of Israel’s, inner man, mind, will and understanding” “unto the LORD God” or “to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God the Supreme Deity” “of Israel” which means “belonging to Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of descendants of Jacob”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” directed the people of Israel to bend their mind and will to Jehovah God who is the Supreme Deity belonging to “Israel”. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how “Joshua” exhorted the people of Israel to depart from their foreign pagan deities which were in the midst of them and to bend their minds and wills toward Jehovah who is the Supreme Deity belonging to “Israel”. God wants us to put Him first in our lives, (See Matthew 6:33) and when we receive His Son Jesus as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us put away all other “gods” to worship Him and Him alone. (See Ezekiel 14:6; 1 Thessalonians 1:9)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares how, “the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".