Bible Study Questions on Joshua 23:1-16
“Cling to the Lord”
Paul J. Bucknell
This is part 1/5 which introduces the main concept of 'clinging' in Joshua 23. There are a Bible study questions at the end.
- 1.When is it that Joshua in chapter 23 convened a meeting with all of Israel’s leaders (23:1-2)?
- 2.Joshua gives a long message starting at the end of verse 2 stating, “I am old.…” Read on and discover how long the ‘sermon’ continues on?
- 3.What does he state in verse 3? How important does this play in a Christian’s life?
- 4.Verse 4 speaks of the inheritance for the tribes. See if you can remember the names of the twelve tribes that received a land inheritance. Which one did not?
- 5.Why does Joshua state those things in verse 5? Is he speaking of that which is completed as in verse 4 or in the future? Reconcile verse 5 with verse 4.
- 6. Joshua summarizes the key to success in verse 6. What does it say? Where else is this mentioned? Who said it?
- 7.Verses 7 and 8 have both a negative (7) and positive (8) aspect to the command in verse 6. What are they?
- 8.Let’s think about that word ‘cling’ or ‘hold fast to’ a bit more. What does cling remind you of? In what other context is the word used in the Bible? (Look at Genesis 2:24. The NASB uses the word ‘cleave’; the NIV uses ‘united.’ The NASB is a much better translation. This word is the same as used here in Joshua 23 for ‘to cling.’)
- NASB For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
- NIV For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
- 9.How does Joshua try to motivate them in verses 9-10? Why is it that they can accomplish such feats?
- 10.How is the word cling (NIV = ‘ally’) used in 23:12? What are some signs that the Israelites have clung to the nations?
- 11.What does the Lord promise to do if we cling to those around us (13)?
- 12.Joshua’s claim in verse 14 is powerful, “… You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed.” How much in your heart can you say this?
- 13.What similarity does Joshua make in verse 15? (Notice the ‘just as.’)
- 14.Does the Lord ever get angry? What does verse 16 say? Is this good or bad? Does God still do this today? Does it mean that God doesn’t love us? How are we to reconcile God’s love for His people and the way He causes these bad things to happen to His people?
- Bible Study Applications: We want to focus the application to the unity in marriage and our spiritual oneness with the Lord. We will first discuss marriages. These can be included during the study above if preferred.
- 1.What is the difference between ‘cleave’ (NASB) and ‘be united’ (NIV)? How do men treat marriage? Can these two translations actually convey two different attitudes? Which is proper? How do we get men to cling to their wives?
- 2.From this word, how can a couple prevent itself from drifting itself apart, making themselves vulnerable to harm?
- 3.What are some signs of a couple in which the man does not cling to his wife? How can we protect ourselves?
- Case study: I was talking to a friend how he and his wife separated for a while due to the two of them studying at two different colleges in different states. He used to visit her but then was shocked to receive a notice that she wanted to divorce him. Finally she did get the divorce because they did not live together, even though she was a supposedly strong Christian. Afterwards, she remarried. How did this happen? How can it be avoided? What is the scriptural command that would shape this kind of decision that the couple might make living separately from each other?
- 4.Spiritually speaking, how does a person cling to an invisible God?
- 5.Clinging refers to deliberate action. What actions are signs that a Christian is pursuing the Lord? How can we improve them?
- 6.We are told in 1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Notice that no one can be in between loves. We either love God or love the world. Just like a courting couple, there are signs that speak of their special affection to each other. What are some signs that our hearts have an affection for the world? Follow this up with prayer and repentance if necessary.
