Joshua 24: The Witness Stone
Saturday, September 13, 2025
Today we read about a rite that takes place in Shechem under an oak in the sanctuary of the Lord. Joshua sets up a standing stone as a witness to all that takes place that day.
Joshua reminds us that the Lord says: I brought you out of a land in which you were asked to serve other gods. And we reply: We remember well how we were taken in by the false promise of immediate satisfaction . . . and how the Lord saved us from an empty life.
Joshua reminds us that the Lord says: I lead you out of the desert and saved you from those who would see an end of you. And we reply: We remember well how we hungered for real sustenance and how we were frightened by those who wanted to put an end to us . . . and how the Lord redeemed us with his own life.
Joshua reminds us that the Lord says: I gave you land which you had not tilled and cities which you had not built, to dwell in; you have eaten of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant. And we reply: We remember well how you rescued us from privation and provided all for us . . . and how the Spirit continues to abide with us and comfort us.
Joshua reminds us that the Lord says: Love the Lord and serve him completely. If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. And we reply: We will renew this promise with you.
Joshua says to us as he said to his own people: You may not be able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God who will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. And we reply as the people replied: We will still serve the Lord.
Joshua says to us as he said to his own people: You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the Lord. And we reply as the people replied: We are, indeed!
And Joshua says . . . This stone shall be our witness, for it has heard all the words which the Lord spoke to us.
And so we pray . . .
Good and faithful God, we were told that you would not forgive us our transgressions and yet you not only forgive them, you come to walk with us as one of us. We hear that you are a jealous God and yet we see that your love is tender and nourishing. We know that you are holy and yet your endless generosity in sharing your life with us amazing to us.
Like Joshua’s people who affirm their covenant promise to you beneath the oak in the sanctuary at Shechem, we declare today that you are the one, the only, the Living God who loves us more dearly than we can imagine. In our littleness we cling to you. In our waywardness we look to you. In our fear we hope in you.
We ask that you call us back when we stray from you. Keep us always close to you so that we might serve you.
We ask that you bind us to you. Keep us always close to you so that we might serve you.
We ask that you never let us go. Keep us always close to you so that we might serve you.
We ask this in Jesus’ name, together with the Holy Spirit. Amen.
A re-post from August 21, 2011.
To learn more about the Amorites, visit: http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1422-amorites
Visit https://www.bibleplaces.com/shechem/ to learn more about Schechem.
Images from: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/silent-witness and https://www.britannica.com/plant/tree and
To learn about Witness Trees in the U.S., visit: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/these-five-witness-trees-were-present-at-key-moments-in-americas-history-180963925/
The Noontimes 