11So be very careful to love the Lord your God.
12"But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them,
13then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you.
- P142
16If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you." - P143
Joshua warns Israel to be careful to love the Lord. If they turn away and allythemselves with other nations, the Lord will no longer drive these out, andthey will become snares and traps for Israel. Joshua reminds them of God‘sfulfilled promises but warns that just as blessings came, so will destruction ifthey break God‘s covenant and serve other gods. - P143
Joshua exhorts the Israelites to stay faithful to their God so that they willcontinue to enjoy His benefits. He reveals a secret to loving their God: Theymust "be careful to love the LORD" (v. 11); devotion will not be automatic.
Joshua foresees that Israel will become fascinated by the cultures of thenations they will dispossess and warns them that if they give their heartsto whatever seems fascinating and new, they will inevitably abandon their love for their God. - P144
We live in an era where the word "love" has becomesynonymous with strong passions and feelings. But we also know that ourfeelings often sway with the trends of our fast-changing culture; they caneven change depending on the time of day. If we on our feelingsto sustain our love for God, we will see it shift like thedeweather. Love is noteffortless; to love is to make every effort in staying faithful. - P144
Dear Jesus, please fill us with Your Holy Spirit so we may love God more thanthe things of this world. Help us to joyfully obey His good commands. InYour name, amen. - P145
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