Like Moses before him, Joshua ended his life as Israel's leader by reminding the fledgling nation of its history - a history marked by unwavering divine faithfulness on the one hand and its own unbelief and rebellion on the other. An accurate and sober recognition of its history with Yahweh was to inform and govern Israel's future with its covenant Father in His sanctuary-land. As they had done previously with Moses, the sons of Israel responded to Joshua's exhortation by pledging themselves to covenant fidelity. But Joshua knew what Moses had known: Israel was not able to fulfill its calling as Yahweh's covenant son and that failure would have disastrous results. The book of Judges records Israel's national and covenantal decline after settling the land, and its apostasy reached its apex with Yahweh's departure from His sanctuary. That departure - signified by the removal of the ark of the covenant from the Holy of Holies - further indicated His departure from the presence of His people. The covenant at Sinai had formalized the relationship between Father and son, but since that day the son had incessantly strayed from the Father. Now Yahweh attested Israel's continual departure from Him by departing from them. The reality of "ichabod" hung over the covenant and only God's power and commitment to His ancient promise to Abraham could save the covenant and insure the ultimate realization of the promise.
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Kit Culver
God with Us 024 God with Us Series Sovereign Grace Community
