The Farewell Address
It was 1796, a full 20 years since a fledgling nation loosed the bands of English monarchy and declared its independence from the motherland. The young nation, now finally free and well on its way to the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness that its founders envisioned, was shocked to learn of the decision of her most prominent and distinguished leader to not accept a third term in office. President Washington, a revolutionary war hero turned stalwart of governmental wisdom, had decided it was best for the country to divest its leadership among many capable men who would become president rather than to turn to one primary leader as their sole navigator. In a 32 page article in the American Daily Advertiser, first published on September 19, 1796, Washington outlined his rationale for vacating the presidency and charged the people to embrace the values of unity, patriotism, and neutrality.
The speech was so revered that it was not until 1837 and Andrew Jackson that another president offered a farewell address. Washington's speech is still read to this day in the Senate Chamber on the anniversary of his birthday. It was the farewell speech of one of the most incredible and revered leaders of American History. In Joshua 23 & 24, we read the farewell speech of another revered and incredible leader by the name of Joshua, and here's what I learned from it.
Highlight:
'“Be very strong and continue obeying all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you do not turn from it to the right or left and so that you do not associate with these nations remaining among you. Do not call on the names of their gods or make an oath to them; do not serve them or bow in worship to them. Instead, be loyal to the Lord your God, as you have been to this day. “The Lord has driven out great and powerful nations before you, and no one is able to stand against you to this day. One of you routed a thousand because the Lord your God was fighting for you, as he promised. So diligently watch yourselves! Love the Lord your God! ' Joshua 23:6-11
Explain:
In Joshua 23 & 24, Joshua is coming to the end of his life. He is, at this point, an old man. He has fearlessly led the children of Israel in the conquest of the land that God had promised to them, and God has been faithful. He has accomplished every purpose and fulfilled every promise made to them. This is evidenced by Joshua’s admission to the people in verse 9 “the Lord has driven out great and powerful nations before you, and no one is able to stand against you to this day.” Remember this is the same group of nomadic slaves on the run in the wilderness who at one point in time feared they would be like grasshoppers, but as we discovered God sent a fear throughout the land of this people such that the only thing they had to fear was fear itself, in one sense they had been their own worst enemy as army after army and nation after nation fell before the God of the Israelites.
In light of such faithfulness and goodness of this God who had gone before them to fight for them, Joshua now addresses the people in the twilight of his leadership. What is so interesting to me is that the clarion call he gives them could have been mistaken for the farewell speech of his predecessor Moses. After having poured into the life of Joshua these truths, Joshua walked in them and is now charging others to do the same. In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses charges the people to love the Lord their God, to obey HIs words and statutes, to worship Him and Him alone. He charges them to to serve and be loyal to this God and He would go before them. This is almost word for word the speech Joshua has for them as well. It is the same dynamic with David and Solomon. Wisdom and victory and success in God’s economy comes from loving Him exclusively and obeying Him explicitly. Every thing else is secondary. The most important thing is to love God, to know God, and to obey God. These are the hallmarks of success. It was the charge Moses gave and it was the charge that Joshua gave as well.
Joshua warns them not to get distracted by the other gods of the land, not to intermarry with them, not to mix with them for they will distract and destroy their allegiance to the one true God, the LORD, the One who fought for them. Joshua knew, as Moses did, that when things got good for the people of Israel their allegiance would wane and they would be enamored with the gods and trinkets of the people around them and that they would prostitute themselves with those things and eventually incur judgment as a result.
Apply:
If ever there was an application for the American church. We are to be disciples and disciple makers. Our Commander and Chief, Jesus Christ commissions us solely in His own farewell address (though He never leaves us), to make disciples of all nations. That is do what I have taught You. Love the Lord (remember He had told them in Matthew 24 that this was the greatest and most important commandment). They were to love the LORD, just as Joshua charged Israel to do. Most especially they were to teach those whom they discipled to "observe everything that I have commanded you.” This is the exact same language with which Joshua was charged in Joshua 1:8 and also the language He charges Israel in 23:6.
Even today the hallmark of the Christian experience is to love God, obey His directives, and to disciple others, to raise up others to do the same. This is the call of Moses to Joshua, its the call of Joshua to the people of Israel, and it’s the call of Jesus to the people of God today. Make disciples by loving God, obeying His word and teaching others to do the same.
We can’t say we are making disciples by merely getting people to pray a prayer any more than Joshua could have told them to pledge allegiance with their lips to Jehovah. The proof of our love for God is our obeying of HIs commands. It was that way then and it is that way now. We need to strive to teach and uphold personally the ways of God and hold one another accountable for following them if we plan to achieve the Commission that our Savior has given us in His farewell address.
Respond:
Jesus help me first to read the word, to meditate on the word, to obey the word, to raise up others to do the same. This is the biblical mandate and process of discipleship and help it to be the priority of my life. Guard me from the distractions of the land that will divert by attention and prevent my affections. Help me to stay focused and get rid of the idols in my life that might hinder me from worshipping as I should.
