Joshua 8:30-35
30 Now Joshua built an altar to the LORD God of Israel in Mount Ebal, 31 as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.
32 And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. 33 Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.
34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.
30 Now Joshua built an altar to the LORD God of Israel in Mount Ebal, 31 as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.
32 And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. 33 Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.
34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.
After God brought victory over Ai to Israel, Joshua built an altar to atone for sin and bring peace with God through their offerings. This altar was made with stones as the LORD had made them, uncut by man’s work to signify the offerings were from what God provides and accepted only as He prescribes. Man’s work can not appease God for their sin of disobedience and disbelief; only God’s work as we find fulfilled in Christ’s work for complete and eternal atonement for sin (Romans 6:23) and peace with God (Romans 5:1), not according to our works of sacrifice (Titus 3:5). This is a reminder of reconciling grace and peace with God in Christ’s work to save us from God’s wrath forever. Joshua then made a copy of the Law on stone for lasting remembrance before the people, blessed the people under the LORD, and then read all of the written word of God to them, both good and bad, blessings and cursings. He did not pick only that which sounded pleasant to hear, nor only that which would cause fear to obedience. He gave the example of reading the whole counsel of God to all who were in the camp of the LORD. This is our example to rely on Christ’s work alone in our worship along with reading and hearing the whole counsel of God’s words of the new covenant which embodies all of scripture from Genesis to Revelation. We dare not pick only the parts which please others or make our own points as if they are the work of God. We let Him speak as written by the words given is and bring out the sense which are the actions we should do in thought and heart and deed. These things we must remind ourselves and each other daily (1 Timothy 4:13, Hebrews 3:13, 10:24-25).
No comments:
Post a Comment