Joshua
24: 14-27
14 "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all
faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in
Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems
undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the
gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land
you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
16 Then the people answered, "Far
be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! 17 It
was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that
land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our
entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18
And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the
land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God."
19 Joshua said to the people, "You
are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive
your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and
serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after
he has been good to you."
21 But the people said to Joshua,
"No! We will serve the LORD."
22 Then Joshua said, "You are
witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD."
"Yes, we are witnesses," they replied.
23 "Now then," said Joshua,
"throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD,
the God of Israel."
24 And the people said to Joshua,
"We will serve the LORD our God and obey him."
25 On that day Joshua made a covenant
for the people, and there at Shechem he drew up for them decrees and laws. 26 And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God.
Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the
LORD.
27 "See!" he said to all the
people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD
has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God."
