Joshua paints a harsh picture of God: "If after the good he has done for you, you forsake the Lord and serve strange gods he will do evil to you and destroy you." From the life and teaching of Jesus we believe that God is merciful and forgiving. Yet of course God's forgiveness, while freely given, is not imposed. God forgives because of the new and eternal covenant which Jesus established between God and humanity by his death on a cross. A covenant demands fidelity of those who accept it, and so we for our part must open our hearts in repentance to receive God's forgiving grace.

The Psalmist praises God, who will show him the path of life, fullness of joys in his presence and delights at God's right hand forever.

Joshua's reference to "other gods" may sound old-fashioned or unrealistic to us. Yet, while we may not think of them as "gods", there are many joys and delights in modern society which can entice us to stray from the truth. The Psalmist sees more clearly that the fullness of joy and delight is only to be found in God's presence.