Farewell

Introduction

Farewell speeches have a peculiar power to inspire and endure. Some of the most memorable have echoed through history, remembered long after their speakers have faded from memory. A military leader once closed a distinguished career with these words: “I am closing my 52 years of military service. When I joined the Army, even before the turn of the century, it was the fulfillment of all of my boyish hopes and dreams. The world has turned over many times since I took the oath at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have all since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barracks ballads of that day which proclaimed most proudly that old soldiers never die; they just fade away. And like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty.”

Or the baseball enthusiast may recall the farewell of a legend who said, “Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans. So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for.”

Farewell speeches are designed to inspire and encourage. Such is the case when we come to Joshua 24. Here is Joshua’s farewell speech to the people he has led for a generation. It is a speech that calls for commitment and dedication. It is a speech that points out the danger in going against God while acknowledging that only God could have brought the people to this point in their journey. As we look at this speech today we will notice that his words inspire us as well and that we are being reminded of how important our commitment remains intact. Let’s be encouraged.

The Speech

All the people gather to hear Joshua’s final words. He rehearses what God has done for the people beginning with Abraham and coming up to the present. What is obvious about this initial review is that it completely centers on God and what he has done. Israel has been blessed because of God’s goodness and grace. There is absolutely no room for boasting—only thanks and commitment.

And so Joshua calls for a commitment. God has given them cities to live in that they did not build. He gave them food to eat that they did not plant. God has provided and they are now ready to commit themselves to God alone. But Joshua already sees signs of weakness. Already false gods and idols have invaded the lives of the people. In verse 14, Joshua tells them to throw away the other gods. The people confess their loyalty, but Joshua doesn’t believe them. With words filled with warning, Joshua denounces their feigned commitment.

In verse 19, Joshua confronts them directly: You can’t serve God. All the signs point to the fact that you do not have enough resolve to follow only him. I already see the other gods that you have brought into your houses. God will not put up with a half-hearted commitment. He is a jealous God. He wants complete loyalty. The people confess that they will honor and follow him all the days of their lives and a witness is brought. A stone is the witness. This stone will represent the words of their pledge. Why an inanimate object? Because a stone doesn’t die nor go away. A stone will remain against the winds, the fires, the wars of the people. We have a similar idea when we say “you can carve it in stone.”

Application

What does it take for commitment to be real and long lasting? We might propose a number of factors—dedication, loyalty, resolve. I suspect that part of what makes commitment real and long lasting is to be committed to something that we recognize is greater than us. Joshua saw that the people raised their right hand to swear allegiance to God while holding a small idol of Baal in the other hand. I think that is what happens to us.

We pledge our commitment to God while holding on to the fistful of bills that demand more from us. Or while holding on to the bitterness and resentment of being treated unfairly. Or while holding on to a dream of what could be instead of focusing on what is. Or while looking for comfort and ease so as to be no inconvenienced. Or while trying to pursue things that satisfy the lusts of life.

Joshua calls for commitment and the people respond that they will dedicate their lives to God. But turn the page to Judges 2:8-15. What happened to their commitment? What will happen to yours? When your life is done, what final words would you have to offer? Will it be to call for the next generation to remain committed to God? Would your life reveal your own commitment so that those final words would have an impact?

Joshua brought a stone to be the witness to the people’s commitment. Our witness is our life. What does your life say about what is important to you? What have you dedicated yourself to pursuing? It was Vance Havner who wrote: A wife who is 85% faithful to her husband is not faithful at all. There is no such thing as part-time loyalty to Jesus Christ. Real commitment takes more than words.

A certain man wanted to sell his house for $2,000. Another man wanted very badly to buy it, but because he was poor, he couldn’t afford the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to sell the house for half the original price with just one stipulation: He would retain ownership of one small nail protruding from just over the door. After several years, the original owner wanted the house back, but the new owner was unwilling to sell. So the first owner went out, found the carcass of a dead dog, and hung it from the single nail he still owned. Soon the house became unlivable, and the family was forced to sell the house to the owner of the nail. The conclusion: If we leave the Devil with even one small peg in our life, he will return to hang his rotting garbage on it, making it unfit for Christ’s habitation.

Get rid of the last nail. Give your life to God fully and completely. Look at what he has done for you and give your heart to him and your life will follow.

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