"SHOWDOWN AT SHECHEM!"
Written and preached by David P. Nolte
JOSHUA 24:1-15
The year was 200 AD. The young soldier was Adrian. He was one of the
Praetorian Guards under Emperor Galerius Maximan. Adrian had been a fanatical
persecutor of Christians. But, in spite of his enthusiastic efforts to
exterminate the Faith, Adrian was troubled and impressed by the calm of
Jesus' followers as they were flayed and put to death. A brave soldier
himself, he admired bravery whenever and wherever he encountered it. One
day he asked a Christian who was being tortured, "What gives you such strength
and even joy in the midst of your suffering?" The martyr calmly replied,
"Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." He remembered all Jesus had done for
Him. He believed all that Jesus had promised to those who are persecuted
for His sake. He believed that after all Jesus had endured for his sake,
that what he was suffering for Jesus was small enough. We, too, when we
recall the benefits of Jesus Christ, are encouraged to face with calm courage
whatever life may bring us. We know that He who has been our help in ages
past, is still our helper and will be for ages to come. That is what Joshua
had in mind when he recited Jewish history and called for a choice and
a commitment. I'm calling this passage "The Showdown At Shechem." Joshua
gathered the people together just before his death to put things in order;
to rally the people to faithfulness; to set forth definite directions and
to issue a warning.
JOSHUA CALLED TO MIND GOD'S
FORMER BLESSINGS: 1-13:
The Christian martyr remembered Jesus Christ and all He had done and all
He had promised and it gave him courage to die. So Joshua summons the catalog
of God's faithful dealings and deliverance to bring the people to faithfulness.
He reminded them that:
God had miraculously multiplied the descendants of Abraham, though Abraham
was too old to bear children naturally. This very generation owed their
existence to the promise and blessing of God.
God had miraculously provided for them in Egypt during a famine in Judea.
God had delivered them from Egyptian tyranny through Moses the emancipator.
God had fought and conquered their enemies during the exodus.
God had given them Canaan land for a possession.
Joshua reminded them of that because they needed reminding. We, too, need
reminders of God's former blessings, of His faithfulness, of His power.
Troubles, time, other occupations cause us to forget.
Let us learn to count, enumerate and specifically name the good things
He has bestowed.
Let us turn to the Word regularly for a reminder of God's faithful promises.
Let us learn to listen to the Holy Spirit's reminders of God's goodness.
Let us gather regularly with other Christians to do what we are commanded
to do in Hebrews 10:25:
"encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing
near."'
Let us make it a regular part of our week to be at His Table, remembering
what Jesus did for our salvation.
All these things help us remember that the God of the past is the God of
the present and is the God of the future. As He was, He is, and always
shall be. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." Hebrews
13:8.
When the soul is much discouraged by the roughness of the way, and the
cross we have to carry seem heavier every day; When some cloud that overshadows
hides our Father's face from view, Oh, 'tis well then to remember, He has
blessed us hitherto! Looking back the long year over with a varied path
-- and yet, all the way His hand has led us past each hindrance we have
met; given to us the pleasant places -- cheered us all the journey through;
passing through the deepest waters, He has blessed us hitherto! Surely,
then, our souls should trust Him, tho the clouds be dark overhead; we've
a Friend that draws closer when our other friends have fled; when our pilgrimage
is over, and the gates we're sweeping through, we shall see, with clearer
vision, how He blessed us hitherto!
Adrian had witnessed Christian courage, he had heard Christian testimony
and had seen Christian faithfulness. He was a man who knew how to make
decisions and made one right then and there. He stepped up to one of his
officers and said, "Put down my name among those to be tortured. I shall
also be a Christian." The most important decision he ever made. And that's
what Joshua called for: Decision! Deliberate, determined, conscious decision.
JOSHUA CHALLENGED THEM TO MAKE
A CHOICE: 14, 15:
The Christian martyr had made his choice: live and die for Jesus. Adrian
had made his choice,too. So, Joshua called for a three-fold decision:
Choose to fear God:
He meant, "Stand in awe, respect and reverence of God."
Proverbs 1:7
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom
and instruction."'
Proverbs 8:13"The
fear of the LORD is to hate evil;"
Proverbs 14:26
"In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will
have refuge."
Choose to serve God:
The word for "serve" here can mean to "work for" and / or to"worship" Him.
To serve Him sincerely and in truth, without guile or hypocrisy or pretense.
To serve Him without lagging or shirking or quitting.
John 4:23-24
"But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship
the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be
His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in
spirit and truth."
Choose Who or what will be God:
Joshua called for a clear cut choice: Idols or God! Not both idols and
God but either idols or God!
Years later Elijah called for such a choice, too, saying, 1
Kings 18:21, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions?
If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him."
Jesus called for such a choice, saying in Matthew
6:24 (NIV),
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the
other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot
serve both God and Money."
This is a challenge to choose! There is a sense of urgency here!
"Today!" Not when the right feeling comes, or the mood strikes you, or
when somebody else does!
2 Corinthians 6:2
(NIV) says,"For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the
day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor,
now is the day of salvation."
You can't decide too soon, but too soon it may be too late.
Christians are challenged to be choosers. To make daily decisions that
reflect our faith, that deepen our commitment, and that glorify God. There
are copious alternatives before us daily. Choose that which is best.
Paul said, Philippians
1:9-10 (NIV)
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge
and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and
may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,"
So, making his choice, Adrian became a Christian. For the next 23 years
he suffered and was tormented for his choice. But he never flinched, never
looked back, never regretted his alignment with Jesus Christ. Finally,
Adrian was martyred for his faith. Others looked upon him as a model of
courage and commitment. "Put down my name" he had said. Are you willing
to say that and to live by it? That's what Jesus calls for, that's what
Joshua called for as he had his Showdown at Shechem.
JOSHUA CAUTIONED THEM AGAINST INFIDELITY: 16-20:
How tempting it was for the Christian martyr to renounce the name of Jesus
and to embrace the emperor as god. But he was faithful. The people in Joshua's
day boasted of their fidelity. They'd stand! Evidently their promise was
as transparent as tracing paper. Joshua chided them based on his experience
with them in the past.
Look at Verses 19, 20
again: "Then Joshua said to the people, 'You will not be able to serve
the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive
your transgression or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign
gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you after He has done
good to you." Historically, they had proven to be fickle and Joshua expected
it of them in the future.
It was the great shame and failure of Israel to be enamored with the lifeless
idols and false gods of their neighbors.
This led to the division of the kingdom at the death of Solomon.
It led to their captivity in Assyria and then Babylon.
It is the demand of God that we put away all that is false, all that is
pagan, all that is idolatrous.
Don't amalgamate them and mix them in with your Christian faith.
Don't excuse them or make room for them.
Don't allow anything, anyone, or any pursuit to put God in second place.
So, what is your God? In light of all He's done for us, in view of what
He is doing and has promised to do, let us cast off all other loyalties
that conflict, all other things that vie for first place, and all other
relationships that hinder and put Jesus first in our lives. Fear Him, worship
Him, serve Him, obey Him, live for Him. And decide to do that today. This
is the time to decide. This is the time to commit. This is the time to
follow. This is the time to obey. Choose for yourselves today whom you
will serve. Who is on the Lord's side? Choose well; choose today; but choose.