The book of Joshua is a very positive book in the Bible. It is a book about the faithfulness of God, written to strengthen our faith in his promises, particularly the promise that Jesus Christ is preparing a new home for us where we can enjoy rest in his presence (Hebrews 4:1–16). It is also a book about our responsibility toward God. The Lord has made promises to us. He has shown himself to be worthy of our trust. And in this book we will see how the Lord calls us to now be faithful to him.
In light of the purpose of Joshua, the goal of your sermon must be to show how God has been faithful to us, and what response the Lord is calling us to. Joshua 21:1–45 prepares the people for life in the land by assigning the Levitical cities. These cities provided spaces for the Levites to live so that they can teach God’s Word to his people (Deuteronomy 33:10). For a modern audience, this chapter gives an opportunity to reflect on the tasks of the Levites and how they relate to ministers of the Word as well as the proper provision for pastors. The final emphasis on the Levites being a parable of pilgrimage also helps us to know that our life in this world is temporary and we are looking forward to permanent residence in the new creation.
1 Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites came to Eleazar the priest and to Joshua the son of Nun and to the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the people of Israel.