Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.

2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says…” (NIV)

As he approached the culmination of his life and ministry, Joshua was still ‘switched on’ spiritually. He had not nodded off. He was alert, attentive, still in a position to hear God’s prophetic word for his people, and deliver it. The words he spoke on that day have reverberated across the centuries. Here are some of the most well-known words in the whole of Scripture:

 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (14,15)

How many sermons have been preached on this text? In challenging the people to faithfulness, Joshua did not cop out with a well-worn phrase such as, ‘And I preach this to myself also.’ When he exhorted them to ”choose”, he himself had already chosen. He practiced what he preached. His life was his sermon.

‘Our God is a ”jealous God” in that He will not be one of several gods in our lives; He must be Lord of all.’ Warren W. Wiersbe

Oh to be like Joshua in old age: spiritually fresh, green and verdant; focussed on God and constantly looking to honour Him.