Deuteronomy & The Importance of Remembering with Pastor Brandon
As we go into the weekend, we begin a new book of the Bible: Deuteronomy!
As Chapter 1 begins, the Lord tells the people in V. 6, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.” This reminds me of times when I have been dwelling on something for too long, over thinking a problem, or sitting with my anger too long, and the Lord is prompting me to get up and move on… “Brandon, you have been dwelling here long enough…” What about you? Can you identify with this? Maybe God is telling you this week, “you have been dwelling here long enough.”
And it isn’t just a time to move into a random place, but it is time to go and take possession of the land promised to the Israelites’ ancestors! The Lord made good on his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and now, after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, it is time for the descendants to inhabit the Promised Land.
But fear strikes the heart of many, and there are people inhabiting the land, and they are strong, tall, and look capable of inflicting great harm. It is here in Deuteronomy 1:29-31, the Lord reminds the people of all he has done for them, fighting their enemies for them, releasing them from captivity, and in V. 31, the Lord uses this beautiful image to describe his love for his people, “…there you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son…” I love that image. Can you picture it?
When you get to chapter 6, you will encounter one of the most important chapters in all of Deuteronomy, and perhaps one of the most important in all of the Old Testament. In Hebrew, this is called the Shema. When I teach my parenting class, I always tell the families that they need their own family “Shema,” or, their own way of telling the story, of hearing from God, and remembering. In V.20, it explains why remembering, why re-telling the story, why practicing faithful lives are so important…because one day your children will ask you about why we do what we do, and you want to be able to tell them the story of redemption, how Christ redeems his people, rescuing from sin and darkness and giving us new lives. Israel is invited in Deuteronomy 6 to “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One,” and to “love the Lord your God,” with all that is in you. A great reminder for us all!
In chapters 8-11 of Deuteronomy, the warning comes to the people, do not forget the Lord. The cautionary tales of the Golden Calf, and Moses breaking the tablets with the 10 commandments are retold, and for effect. We see what happens when we go it alone, or when we think we can make our own way. Moses issues blessings and woes: Blessed you will be, if you walk in the way of the Lord, obey his commands, and listen to his voice, but…as you go into the Land of Promise, as you cross the Jordan, make certain that you listen to my words and advice, Moses tells them. He asks them to remember his words and wisdom, for he will not be able to go with them. Final words matter, and Moses is about to embark on many words in the chapters to come, telling them all that he wants them to carry with them. Buckle up!