We Will Serve the LORD - Joshua 24:21

In the book of Joshua, we learned how Joshua said to the people of Israel, “You cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If you forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he has done you good”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse twenty-one of Joshua, “ the people of Israel said to Joshua, “No; but we will serve the LORD” where we read, 

And the people said unto Joshua, No; but we will serve the LORD.

The verse reads, “And the people said unto Joshua, No;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the people said” which means “and the human beings of Israel uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto Joshua” or “to 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”, “No” which means “not in any manner”. Joshua or the writer shared how the human beings of Israel proclaimed they would not in any way abandon Jehovah God to “serve” other deities. 

The verse continues, “but we will serve the LORD.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “but we” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover we, the people of Israel” “will serve the LORD” or “shall worship, labor and work for Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. Joshua or the writer shared how the people of Israel declared that they would worship and work for Jehovah God. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we see how the people of Israel declared that they would not abandon Jehovah God but would rather worship and labor for Him. God wants it this way because those who follow Him are blessed and benefited by it. God loves people, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, He made the way through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to “serve” Him all the days of our lives. (See John 3:16; 14:6; Mark 10:44) 

Next time Joshua or the writer shares how “Joshua said unto the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen you the LORD”, 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".