In the book of Joshua, we learned how,“Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse twenty-seven of the book of Joshua, Joshua or the writer shared how, “Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us” where we read,
And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it has heard all the words of the LORD which he spoke unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest you deny your God.
The verse reads, “And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Joshua” whose name means “Jehovah is salvation” and was “son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan” “said unto all the people” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to each, the whole and everyone of the human beings of Israel”, “behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us” which means “lo, look and consider this massive rock will exist as a testimony and evidence to us, Joshua and the people of Israel”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” told the “people” of Israel to consider that the massive “stone” set up by him would serve as a testimony to him and them.
The verse goes on to say, “for it has heard all the words of the LORD which he spoke unto us:” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “for it has heard” which means “because, since and on account that it, the stone, has perceived, understood and listened to” “all the words of the LORD” or “each, the whole and everyone of the speeches, utterances and proclamations belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God” “which he spoke unto us” which means “that he, Jehovah God, uttered, declared and proclaimed to us, Joshua and the people of Israel”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” told the people of Israel that he and the people of Israel listened to every one of the utterances that Jehovah God declared to them.
Finally the verse reads, “it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest you deny your God.” Joshua ended this verse with the words, “it shall be therefore” which means “it, the massive stone, will then, wherefore and on this account exist wherefore, then and on this account as” “a witness unto you” or “a testimony and evidence to you, the people of Israel”, “lest you deny your God” which means “or else that you, the people of Israel, deceive, make untrue, insufficient and dissembled your, the people of Israel’s, Supreme Deity”. Joshua or the writer shared how Joshua told the people the massive stone would be evidence and a testimony to the people of Israel or else they might make untrue and insufficient their Supreme Deity Jehovah God.
When we think through upon the words in this verse, we learn how “Joshua” declared that the massive “stone” was to be a “testimony” to him and the people of Israel because the “stone” was in the presence of every one of the speeches and utterances of Jehovah God. This “stone” was to be evidence of the commitment and agreement that the people of Israel and Jehovah God made with each other. God’s desire is to have a personal intimate relationship with all of us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we yield our lives to Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and to help us continually be His “witnesses” in this world. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8)
Next time Joshua or the writer shares how, “Joshua let the people depart”, 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".
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