Monday, 23 March 2020
Deuteronomy 4:1-14
“…so that you do not forget…….or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.” Deuteronomy 4:9
Most often we like to remember events/incidents which have been pleasant in our lives and try to shove off those which have been painful or unkind to us- its human tendency. We have here Moses emphatically telling Israel before they enter their Promised Land, that they are to constantly remind themselves of the Lord’s great acts amongst them and not let them slip off from their hearts as long as they live! What a reminder for us too!
The nation of Israel had witnessed the great arm of the Lord delivering them from the hand of their enemies- the many miracles He had wrought in their midst- their eyes had seen how the Lord protected, provided and commanded them. Besides giving them what they needed in the journey, He also gave them His Laws and statues as guidelines for living in the land they would settle. All these were to be carefully remembered and reminded to the next generation.
Let us look at some pointers in God’s Word to what we should not forget:
Do not forget the LORD – As God’s people were admonished in Moses’ time, when all is well and life is flourishing, it is easy to forget the Lord who blessed you and so he says, “be careful that you do not forget the Lord…” (Deut.6:12). To the believer the writer of Hebrews says: "… consider Jesus,……"(Hebrews 3:1).
“be careful that you
do not forget the Lord…”
(Deut.6:12)
Do not forget His Covenant – As God’s covenanted people He told them inDeut.4:23 “Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you;” The believer too is covenanted to the Lord through the blood of Jesus Christ (Matt.26:28) and we are called to remember Christ’s death and His resurrection until His coming again, each time we partake of the Lord’s Table.
“Be careful not to forget
the covenant of the
LORD your God that he made with you;” Deut. 4:23
Do not forget His precepts- Along with warning His people not to forget the Lord, He said they shouldn’t fail to observe His Commandments, rules and statutes (Deut.8:11). With the Psalmist, each of us needs to say: “I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.” (Ps.119:93ESV).
“I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.” Psa 119:93
Do not forget His deeds- 1Chron.16:12 says, “Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,” and that we would not forget His deeds (Ps. 78:7). When one leper came back (out of the 10 healed), to give thanks, Jesus asked “where are the nine?” (Luke 17:11-19).
“Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done, His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,” 1Chron. 16:12
Do not forget His benefits –Psalm 103:2 says, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” Remember to be grateful each day: "Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!" (Ps.68:19). See what it says in Eph.1;3:"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” Psa 103:2
Dear Brothers and Sisters, do you constantly remember His covenant of love with you? Are you grateful each day for every benefit He blesses you with? The Lord’s Table is a constant reminder of all that we have been blessed in Christ through which we remind ourselves of the great sacrifice of Christ in redeeming us to make us His own treasured possession and hence through Him being blessed in every way, that our gratitude can rise to our Heavenly Father! Would you take time to be grateful to the Lord today?
Thought for the Day:
Nothing cures ingratitude as quickly as a good memory
~ Woodrow Kroll
Listen: ‘Bless the Lord O my soul’