MEETING ON THE MOUNTAINS. Joshua 8:30-35 It is important to remember that the book of Joshua describes events rather than presenting a strict chronological order. The Israelites traveled thirty miles to the Valley of Shechem, where they learned the ways in which they would be blessed or cursed. There are no options or middle grounds. This was the site where God promised Canaan to Abraham. Jacob’s well was located here, and it is also where Jesus spoke with the woman at the well. Situated between Mt. Ebal to the north and Mt. Gerezim two miles south, they gathered to do what Moses had commanded before he died [De.27]. This area forms a natural amphitheater, allowing voices to carry easily from one mountain to another. Joshua built an altar there on Mt. Ebal for burnt offerings and peace offerings. Between the two mountains, the Ark of the Covenant was placed. The altar served as a place of worship, communion, discipline, and obedience. It was built from uncut stones to prevent people from worshiping the craftsmanship of the builders rather than the greatness of God, the Creator.
It was there that the renewal of the covenant with the Lord took place after the initial conquest of Canaan and the first battles were fought. The altar and the memorial pillar would be located where the people committed themselves to the law in the land and dedicated themselves to being the Lord’s willing servants. Joshua expressed his faith by dedicating the first altar built by the nation of Israel in the promised land to “the Lord God of Israel.” The stones were made by God, for God, and for the people to understand under whose authority they lived, moved, and had their being. As servants of God's kingdom, they were reclaiming what belonged to God from the idolatrous power of the devil and those who practice his religion.
Victory does not mean we can ignore God's claims on us. It is, in fact, quite the opposite. Considering all that God has done for us, we need to pause and reflect on the Great Cause of our blessings and remember that our responsibilities are not over. Restoration brings us back to God, where we experience His grace and love once more. We should never think we don't need to hear God's truths again simply because we've heard them before. Truth must remain central to our daily lives so we can avoid the deceit that challenges us and face every obstacle with faith.
The law of liberty by which we conduct our lives is not something we can simply take or leave at will. The written truths of God's Word are given to us to practice in our Christian walk to keep us from being "disqualified," as the apostle Paul so aptly stated. He constantly submitted to personal discipline "lest… I myself be a castaway." When Israel reached the valley of Shechem, they paused to focus on something more important than celebrating victory. There, in full view of anyone watching, Israel was publicly placed under the authority of God's Word in a way that all could hear and see.
On top of the rugged, rocky Mt. Ebal, an altar of uncut stones was built. No tools were used to make each stone fit the next. This altar was meant for worshiping the Creator. It was pure and unpolluted by human sin. It symbolized the Israelites' true worship and fellowship with God. This first altar, constructed after they entered the promised land, proclaimed their communion with God and submission to His word. Discipline had brought about "the peaceable fruits of righteousness," and they were once again following God's will. They had buried the king of Ai before sunset, obeying God's law. Now, they gathered to hear God's word read and see it inscribed on that rocky hill. The smoke from the burnt offering and the peace offering could be seen for miles, signifying to everyone that Israel publicly recognized their dependence on God.
We may never fully realize the influence our collective worship has on others who watch with unspoken questions. It is enough that we do not "forsake the assembling of ourselves together," and we leave the results of our obedience to the Lord to use as He sees fit. One thing we do know is that doing God's work in God's way will not always be understood by those who do not submit to the discipline of God's word or obey it. "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another." The failure of a past generation does not mean the new generation is destined to fail. New Testament holiness remains the same as Old Testament holiness because the Holy God is unchanged. The difference between the Old and New is that the motivation for holiness under the law of liberty is greater because of God's grace and love, rather than the fear of consequences when the law was broken. When we understand the blessings of this new liberty, we are glad to live holy, righteous, and godly lives. That is one of our highest desires - to please God.
The Ark of the Covenant was placed in the valley between two mountains. Half of Israel stood on the side of Mt. Ebal, and the other half on the side of Mt. Gerezim. The pillar on Mt. Ebal was covered with plaster so that the law would not only be read aloud for all the people, as Moses commanded, but also written there when Joshua inscribed a copy of the law on the stones — not with a tool on the stones but on the plaster. He wrote it in front of the children of Israel, and he read all the words of the law out loud before the entire congregation — men, women, little ones, and strangers. When the curses were read, they responded with loud "Amens." It doesn't seem like "Amens" were said when the blessings were read. The altar on Mt. Ebal served as a reminder of both punishment for sin and forgiveness. The altar symbolized Christ, who suffered for our sins in place of the curse. "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree." Finally, after forty years, Israel gathered in this way to hear the word of the Lord in the presence of the ark.
Christian liberty does not exempt us from obligations and responsibilities to God’s word and God’s will. We are free from the law of sin and death through the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. The law, weak through the flesh, was condemned by God, who sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and fulfilled its requirements. To us who are Christians, the law of Moses is not an obligation to fulfill but a delight so that we can know and do the will of God "heartily as unto the Lord and not unto man." Christ has fulfilled the law on our behalf, and God's justice is satisfied because the curse of the law is no longer in effect.
All questions about whether I should do this or go there are answered when we go to the cross and learn and remember all that took place there. Our whole life as Christians is to live to glorify our Savior. That is what life is all about. We are finished with the law and its sentence but cannot avoid its standards. The new law of liberty we live by is not fulfilled in the energy of the flesh but by the Holy Spirit operating in us and through us. Holiness is not optional. Without it, no one can see the Lord.
There is a price to pay for a holy, active Christian life. Being a Christian involves more than just holding beliefs. Beliefs must lead to actions. The law was written, and the altar is where blood was shed, communion was restored, and worship was offered. Our blessings exceed those of Israel, making our responsibility even greater. Because of this, we act in holiness and find joy in pleasing our Lord and Savior. The freed Christian longs to do God's will. By God’s sovereign grace, we have been loved, saved, and set apart for Him. This drives us to obey the truth, live joyfully under God's authority, walk as He desires, and follow His commands in His Word.
There is no neutral position for believers. We are either on Mount Gerizim or Mount Ebal. Now our sacrifices are more personal as we worship and serve Him. We don't bring animals or material things, but the things from our hearts that God cannot create. "The fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." That is the sacrifice of praise. There is the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart that God does not despise. There are other sacrifices that are in our capacity to give. Perhaps the most important one is that we "Present our bodies, a living sacrifice; holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable (priestly) service."