Joshua 23:1-2
‘It came to pass a long time after the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age. And Joshua called for all Israel and for their Elders and for their Heads and for their Judges and for their Officers, and said to them, “I am old and stricken in age!”… Behold, this day I am going the way of all the Earth!’ Joshua 23:1-2,14.
Calvin comments: “Here we have a narrative of the solemn protestation which Joshua used towards the time of his death, so that he might leave the pure worship of God surviving him…. Thanks are justly rendered, to God….
“The pious solicitude of Joshua is here also set forth, for the imitation of all who are in authority…. The father of a family will not be considered sufficiently provident if he thinks of his children only till the end of his own life and does not extend his care farther, studying as much as in him lies to do them good even when he is dead.
“So, good Magistrates and Rulers ought carefully to provide that the well-arranged condition of affairs as they leave them, be confirmed and prolonged to a distant period. For this reason, Peter writes (Second Peter 1:15) that he will endeavour after he has departed out of the world, to keep the Church in remembrance of his admonition and able to derive benefit from them….
“He (Joshua) invited all Israel — and, it…being immediately after added, that he invited their Elders and Heads and Judges…. Joshua briefly animates the people, and exhorts them to sure confidence in the continued and unwearying grace of God….
“Seeing they had experienced that God is true in all things, they could have no doubt for the future…. They might safely hope for the same success in vanquishing and destroying the enemy….
“‘Behold, this day I am going (the way of all the Earth)!’ As it has been appointed unto all men once to die (Hebrews 9:27), Joshua says that in regard to himself the common end of all is at hand — inasmuch as he too was born mortal….
“There cannot be a doubt that his loss filled the people with the deepest regret…. He therefore admonished them that since the race of life is ended by having reached the goal, they were not to ask that his condition should be different from that of the whole human race.
“Meanwhile, he does not intimate that the form of dying is the same in all. Because the believers of heavenly doctrine are distinguished from unbelievers by an incorruptible seed — not allowing them in like manner to perish.” It “only adverts to that which is common — namely, departure from the world after the course of life is ended.”
Joshua was old, and stricken with age. But, certain of his own heavenly destination, he still planned for the future welfare of his people here on Earth after his own demise! May we do so!
