As needed, we make lists of things to do, or to remember. The grocery list in our household gets items marked up throughout the week so that on 'grocery day,' the to-be-replenished items get remembered...hopefully.
The grocery purchaser then merrily makes her way to the supermarket to collect the needed items - without the list! Eye-roll!
"You were supposed to have remembered to snatch that off the fridge B4 leaving the house! How will you remember what is needed?"
she scolded herself. Then it's the guessing game. Do I need this or that?
So often we forget things and so often we have to be reminded to remember, so true. True for us, true for the ancient people during the Old Testament time of the Israelites. Time and again they had to be reminded of God's commands and laws, and even that they had agreed to obey them.
It's interesting to note that they even had a formally scheduled time to be reminded as well. Moses had gotten the ball rolling as seen in Deuteronomy 27:9-14. That's when 1/2 the tribes of Israel stood on Mt. Gerizim and the other 1/2 on Mt. Nebo with the Levites standing inbetween. The Levites had to shout, "Amen!" after each law, blessing and curse was read/recited. Wonder how long it took them to memorize all of it!*
Moses had written it all down and at the end of seven-year intervals, this law had to be read in the hearing of the whole Israelite assembly...
"...listen and learn to fear the LORD your God (Deuteronomy 31:9-11).
Any king they were to have in future had this charge upon him. He was to write out his own copy of the law, and keep it with him (right handy like) and read it all the days of his life (see Deuteronomy 17:18-20). He was to follow all of them, which would keep him following after God and keep him humble, spiritually able to lead his people.
It's delightful to see Joshua son of Nun take up this practice. He was not a king but he was the successor of Moses, leading the children of Israel to conquer the peoples of the Promised Land after Moses' death.
Joshua who'd become "strong and courageous" took up his javelin and conquered, together with all the "fighting men" of Israel, and most importantly, the LORD, his and their, God.
Of note, if you recall the history, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob built altars along the paths of their lifes' journeys. Altars to the LORD their God Whom they worshiped and offered up their praise and thanksgiving to at important times of their lives. They stopped, built and acknowledged God and His help to them and their dependance upon Him.
Moses did so too. At intervals throughout the wilderness journey, he taught the Israelites to do so too. It warms my heart then to see Joshua setting to, to do the same.
"Joshua built on mount Ebal an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites..." (Joshua 8:30-31NIV)
Joshua didn't say, "Oh Moses is gone now; I'm in charge, we're going to do things differently from now on..." No. He was not proud or arrogant. Look at what he did after building the altar. He
"...copied on stones the law of Moses..." (Joshua 8:32)
and then he got all those tribes lined up in front of Mt Gerizim and Mt Ebal with the Levites inbetween, and he read
"the word of the law - the blessings and the curses - just as it is written in the Book of the Law" (Joshua 8:14 NIV).
He read every word Moses had entered into that book! Get this, he wasn't just reading to the men, or just to all the adults as so often we do in our Bible study groups, he read to the
"whole assembly of Israel, including the women and the children and the aliens who lived among them" (Joshua 8:35 NIV).
The aliens could not escape it either. Ha, ha.
Now I calculate, if you were a baby the first time you heard the formal congregational readings, the next time, you'd be 7 years old, where you may be fidgeting and maybe not understand much. However, it was God's Word being read in your hearing and they were words of life from the living God.
When you were 14, would rebellious thoughts have been in your mind? Like, "must I listen to all this, again!?" I'm just trying to imagine it in our present day scenario. However, they did take it very seriously back then and there was greater fear of God to a larger extent in the beginning. Yet hearts did wander quickly. At age 21, one might be a bit pompous, and for the Israelites, newly married. In this day and age, one would have "come of age" and be out to "sow ones's oats".
Incidentally, for about 20 days, I've been reading from Genesis to Joshua, up to Joshua 14; about ten chapters a day. Granted, the Laws of Moses from God don't take up all those chapers, perhaps starting in Leviticus and going to Numbers, and Deuteronomy. How many hours or days would that take to read all of them? It would make some impact, I'd think. Unless, the 21 year old is looking at his watch wondering, "When's this going to over, already!!?"
Then at, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, and lastly about age 70. The many reminders throughout an Israelite's lifetime, if they'd listened and adhered to all these laws and readings of the law, would have been so monumental. There were so many reminders and reminders to remind; no excuses to say they didn't know.
In Jesus' time, we see Him reading from the Book of the Law in the Temple. It was not the formal full reading time, I don't think but when the congregation gathered, there were still readings; still reminders of God's Word entering ears that would hear. This brought life and blessing when followed.
Jesus instituted what we now call, "The Lord's Supper" which is to be partaken of "as often as we eat..." (see 1 Corinthians 11:26). This would serve as a reminder of His death upon the cross and to all whom it impacted who chose or had chosen to accept His gift of salvation through faith in Him.
It was for us, for whom Christ died. Let us remember, regularly, what He has done for us. As we pass the bread and drink of the cup of wine each Lord's Day, let's remember all Jesus' sufferings on our behalf, especially shedding his blood to make atonement for our souls. This has brought us everlasting life and blessing in Christ.
Oh praise the One who died for You. Bless His holy name. Remember Him.
Remember Jesus, not as a "to-do list" of Sunday things-to-do, but with a heart filled with gratitude. Then we will not forget.
Then go and read your Bible and pray everyday. Read the rest of God's word so you will know the Lord and fear Him and follow in His ways. Read to yourself. Read to your family. Read to your visitors (aka aliens). Read and remember all these words of life. They are the living word of God.
Remember, Christians, remember.
Father God, may we cultivate the habit of constantly recalling Your words, Your greatness of wonderful acts. All You have done for us through Jesus for us personally and for our family and for Your church. May we continue to be faithful to You and strengthened each time we remember your work in our lives. In Jesus' Name I ask.
~ERC August 2021~
Based on Joshua 4-13 NIV.
Sing, Wonderful Words of Life, with Gaither Music.
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