Message: Covenant Renewal on Ebal
Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components.
What the Lord is Saying: As expected, after the Lord has led the people to conquer Jericho and Ai, performing a significant work for the Lord, an altar is built to commemorate the event and memorialize this event. Lives had been lost at Ai unfortunately, but now a time of worship was in order. Moses is referenced as the one that directed or commanded this. And they read from the word of the Lord at this event.
From Tabletalk, "The worship occurred in the valley between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal (v. 33). This valley lay twenty miles north of Ai, in the hill country, and the city of Shechem was located there. God appeared to Abram at Shechem centuries earlier, promising to give his descendants the land (Gen. 12:6–7). Jacob later owned land and dwelled near the city of Shechem (33:18–20). God was indeed keeping His promise to give Israel the land of Canaan, for Joshua and the nation stood in the very place pledged to the descendants of the patriarchs.
This event at Mount Ebal was commanded previously in Deuteronomy 27:1-8, "1 Now Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, “Keep the whole commandment that I command you today. 2 And on the day you cross over the Jordan to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and plaster them with plaster. 3 And you shall write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over to enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you. 4 And when you have crossed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, concerning which I command you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall plaster them with plaster. 5 And there you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. You shall wield no iron tool on them; 6 you shall build an altar to the Lord your God of uncut1 stones. And you shall offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God, 7 and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and shall eat there, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God. 8 And you shall write on the stones all the words of this law very plainly.”
Each Sunday we gather at our churches - to recommit ourselves to the covenant of the Lord, hear the curses for rejecting the Cross, and agreeing with the blessings for obeying it. We are to worship the Lord and be in covenant responsibility toward the Lord always. Each week we commit again to the Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ, trusting Him for eternal life. We think about where we have failed Him and we commit once again to live lives in obedience to Him.
Summary: Joshua leads Israel to build an Altar at the Mount of Ebal, at Shechem as commanded previously, to worship the Lord, renewing our commitment to Him.
Promise: All of God’s people—children and adults—should participate in the corporate worship of our God
Prayer: Thank you Lord for reminding me what church is about. It is a time for me each week to gather with other believers and renew my commitment to the Lord. I am to see that You have saved me, that there is a consequence for not committing my life to the Lord and each week I am renewing my covenant before You - to live in a way that honors You. I am reminded of truths and there are many of these truths given to me. At times Lord, I admit feeling overwhelmed by my responsibility to love and honor You. I have trouble grasping it all but keep me centered on your Grace and while I need to remain committed, you shower me with grace and forgiveness and it is you that are working. You began the good work in me and you will complete it. Thank you for living in me and reminding me each week of how you are working.
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