Joshua 23:6 - “Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you not turn away from it to the right hand or to the left;
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What does "Joshua 23:6" mean?
Joshua 23:6 is a call to unwavering obedience to the law of Moses. Let's break down what it means:
"Therefore be very courageous": This highlights the difficulty and challenge of consistently following God's law. It acknowledges that it takes strength and resolve to resist temptations and pressures to stray from the path. It's not just about intellectual assent, but about active and persistent commitment.
"to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses": This emphasizes complete and comprehensive obedience. It's not selective; it's about adhering to the entirety of the law. "Keep" implies guarding it jealously, protecting it from being diluted or distorted. "Do" means actively putting it into practice in daily life. "The book of the law of Moses" refers to the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, which contain God's commandments, statutes, and ordinances given to the Israelites through Moses.
"that you not turn away from it to the right hand or to the left": This is the crux of the verse. It means to remain steadfast and not deviate from the prescribed path.
"To the right hand": This could represent adding to the law, perhaps through human traditions or interpretations that go beyond what God commanded. It signifies religious innovation or self-righteousness, potentially adding burdens that God did not intend.
"To the left hand": This could represent taking away from the law, by ignoring or disobeying God's commands. It suggests moral laxity, compromise, or outright rejection of God's standards.
In essence, the verse is a warning against two common pitfalls:
1. Legalism (going to the right): Adding to God's law with human rules and regulations, creating a system of performance-based righteousness.
2. License (going to the left): Ignoring or diminishing God's law, leading to moral compromise and disobedience.
The message is that true obedience is about faithfully following God's revealed will as it is, without adding to it or subtracting from it.
Context in Joshua 23: Joshua is giving his farewell address to the leaders of Israel. He is old and nearing the end of his life. He has led the Israelites in conquering the Promised Land and distributing it among the tribes. In this chapter, he warns them about the dangers of idolatry and the temptations to intermarry with the remaining Canaanite populations. He reminds them of God's faithfulness in fulfilling his promises, but also warns them that God will judge them severely if they are disobedient. Therefore, the call to unwavering obedience in verse 6 is presented in the context of maintaining a covenant relationship with God and avoiding the disastrous consequences of breaking that covenant.
Relevance to Christians today: While Christians are not under the Mosaic Law in the same way as the Israelites were (we are under grace through faith in Jesus Christ), the principle of obedience to God's revealed will remains crucial. We are called to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and the principles of the New Testament, avoiding both legalism and license. We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We still strive to live a life pleasing to God. The core message remains relevant: We need courage and commitment to follow God's way faithfully, avoiding extremes of adding to or subtracting from His Word.
Joshua 23:6 - “Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you not turn away from it to the right hand or to the left;
What does "Joshua 23:6" mean?
Joshua 23:6 is a call to unwavering obedience to the law of Moses. Let's break down what it means:
"Therefore be very courageous": This highlights the difficulty and challenge of consistently following God's law. It acknowledges that it takes strength and resolve to resist temptations and pressures to stray from the path. It's not just about intellectual assent, but about active and persistent commitment.
"to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses": This emphasizes complete and comprehensive obedience. It's not selective; it's about adhering to the entirety of the law. "Keep" implies guarding it jealously, protecting it from being diluted or distorted. "Do" means actively putting it into practice in daily life. "The book of the law of Moses" refers to the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, which contain God's commandments, statutes, and ordinances given to the Israelites through Moses.
"that you not turn away from it to the right hand or to the left": This is the crux of the verse. It means to remain steadfast and not deviate from the prescribed path.
"To the right hand": This could represent adding to the law, perhaps through human traditions or interpretations that go beyond what God commanded. It signifies religious innovation or self-righteousness, potentially adding burdens that God did not intend.
"To the left hand": This could represent taking away from the law, by ignoring or disobeying God's commands. It suggests moral laxity, compromise, or outright rejection of God's standards.
In essence, the verse is a warning against two common pitfalls:
1. Legalism (going to the right): Adding to God's law with human rules and regulations, creating a system of performance-based righteousness.
2. License (going to the left): Ignoring or diminishing God's law, leading to moral compromise and disobedience.
The message is that true obedience is about faithfully following God's revealed will as it is, without adding to it or subtracting from it.
Context in Joshua 23: Joshua is giving his farewell address to the leaders of Israel. He is old and nearing the end of his life. He has led the Israelites in conquering the Promised Land and distributing it among the tribes. In this chapter, he warns them about the dangers of idolatry and the temptations to intermarry with the remaining Canaanite populations. He reminds them of God's faithfulness in fulfilling his promises, but also warns them that God will judge them severely if they are disobedient. Therefore, the call to unwavering obedience in verse 6 is presented in the context of maintaining a covenant relationship with God and avoiding the disastrous consequences of breaking that covenant.
Relevance to Christians today: While Christians are not under the Mosaic Law in the same way as the Israelites were (we are under grace through faith in Jesus Christ), the principle of obedience to God's revealed will remains crucial. We are called to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and the principles of the New Testament, avoiding both legalism and license. We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We still strive to live a life pleasing to God. The core message remains relevant: We need courage and commitment to follow God's way faithfully, avoiding extremes of adding to or subtracting from His Word.