Joshua 24:19-28
Joshua 24:19-28 TPT
Joshua warned the people, “Don’t be so quick to say, ‘We will worship and serve YAHWEH,’ for he is a holy God. And he will tolerate no rivals. God will not forgive the sin of unfaithfulness to him. If after YAHWEH has been gracious to you, you turn and forsake him to worship other gods, then he will turn and deal harshly with you and totally consume you!” “No, no!” the people responded. “We promise to worship and serve YAHWEH!” Then Joshua said to them, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve YAHWEH.” “Yes, we are witnesses,” they responded. “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away these foreign gods that are among you, and yield your hearts fully to YAHWEH the God of Israel!” And the people promised Joshua, “We really will worship and serve our God, YAHWEH, and listen to his voice.” On that day when the people were gathered at Shechem, Joshua made a covenant between them and YAHWEH, which contained laws the people were to obey. Joshua recorded all this in a book of divine instruction. Then he set up a large stone memorial at the tent pole near the holy place of YAHWEH. Joshua said to all the people, “Look at this stone! It will serve as a witness, for it heard all the words that YAHWEH spoke to us; it will be a witness against you if you rebel against our God.” Joshua then dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance.