My God and My Country

The Book of Joshua

Chapter 23:6-8, 14

Geneva Bible Translation

6 Be ye therefore of a valiant courage to observe and do all that is written in the book of the Law of Moses, that ye turn not there from to the right hand nor to the left, 7 Neither company with these nations: that is, with them that are left with you, neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow unto them: 8 But stick fast unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day.

14 And behold, this day do I enter into the way of all the world, and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that nothing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God promised you, but all are come to pass unto you: nothing hath failed thereof.

Study notes - Wesley, Gill, Henry

Cleave to the Lord - By constant obedience, entire affection, faithful service and worship of him alone. To this day - To wit, since you came in to Canaan; since which time the body of the people (for of them he speaks, not of every particular person) had behaved themselves much better than they did in the wilderness, and had not been guilty of any gross and general apostacy from God, or rebellion against him. To wit, unnecessarily and familiarly, lest the mention of them (idols) breed discourse about them, and so by degrees bring to the approbation and worship of them. Let those names which have been set up in rivalship with God, be forever loathed and lost. Nor bow - Neither give them any inward reverence, or outward adoration. Here is an observable gradation, whereby he shews what notable progress sin usually makes, and what need there is to look to the beginnings of it, forasmuch as a civil and common conversation with their persons was likely to bring them, and indeed did actually bring them, by insensible steps, to the worship of their gods. So it is no wonder, if some things not simply and in themselves evil, be forbidden by God, as here the naming of their gods is, because they are occasions and introductions to evil.  "God fighteth for you against your enemies, do you therefore behave yourselves valiantly for him. Keep and do with a firm resolution all that is written in the book of the law.’’ He presses upon them no more than what they were already bound to. "Keep with care, do with diligence, and eye what is written with sincerity.’’To be very cautious: "Take heed of missing it, either on the right hand or on the left, for there are errors and extremes on both hands. Take heed of running either into a profane neglect of any of God’s institutions or into a superstitious addition of any of your own inventions.’’ They must especially take heed of all approaches towards idolatry, the sin to which they were first inclined and would be most tempted.