"Review and Remember" February 10 Readings: Deuteronomy 1-4

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Today's Reading - Deuteronomy 1-4


Background


Deuteronomy means "second law." It is Moses' recounting of the faithfulness of God to Israel from the Exodus throughout the wilderness wanderings. It highlights the key aspects of the law.

Devotional - Review and Remember


Deuteronomy is a favorite book of mine, because I take a lot of teasing about how often I "review" and repeat my teachings. The whole book is one long review. Moses, at the end of his life, just before he would turn over the reins of leadership to Joshua and his life would come to an end, reviewed the story of God's grace to Israel and the law that was told in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers.

There is a reason why God, through Moses, gave the book of Deuteronomy, why he reviewed the story of his grace to these people. God's people have a tendency to forget his goodness. We have short spiritual memory. Look at the warning in Deuteronomy 4:9 (which will come in tomorrow's reading).
Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you don’t forget the things your eyes have seen and so that they don’t slip from your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.
In chapter 6, Moses will instruct the Israelites to speak these words to their children, which will come the day after.

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:7-9 
The first thing the Serpent tried to do in the Garden is to convince Adam and Eve to forget the goodness of God. God had given them a vast array of tasty fruit. The Serpent got them to focus on the one tree they couldn't have and to forget God's goodness. The enemy wants us to forget what God has said and done. God asks us to remember. 

Many of the sacrifices, ceremonies, and rituals of the Old Testament had one purpose - to help Israel remember what God had done. Jesus also gave us a ceremony to repeat, "in remembrance of me" - to help us memorialize his death on our behalf. 

That is one of the key reasons we read God's Word, pray, and worship is simply to remember. 
Father, may I never forget your goodness to me. May I remember the Cross, where you purchased my soul, the Empty Tomb which gives me life and the power of the Spirit which empowers me. Help me to remember, every day, what you have done. 

Think and Pray


Do you take the time necessary to pause, reflect, and remember the goodness of God and all he has done for you?

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