Rev. Don Campbell
Deuteronomy 14-16
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, March 16, 2019
“LET US NEVER FORGET TO REMEMBER”
Six times in Deuteronomy, Moses tells the people to remember that they had been slaves in Egypt. Three of those are in today’s reading (Deuteronomy 15:15; Deuteronomy 16:3; Deuteronomy 16:12). It is not that they had forgotten the good, because several times they had wanted to go back and even set about to appoint leaders to lead them back. How easily, it seems, it was for them to forget how the Egyptians had ruthlessly made them work as slaves, making their lives bitter (Exodus 1:13-14). They had forgotten the bodies of the boy babies who were fed to the crocodiles. Although the Scriptures do not mention this gruesome detail, there is good reason to believe it happened. The Egyptians worshiped the crocodile god, Sobek. A crocodile, a man with the head of a crocodile, or a mummified crocodile are used as representations for Sobek. In throwing the baby boys into the Nile, they might have been making offerings to the crocodile god as well as insuring against a future armed rebellion.
Moses calls upon the newborn nation to remember three things: First, they were to remember that they had been slaves (Deuteronomy 15:15a). Second, they were to remember who had redeemed them (Deuteronomy 15:15b;16:3). Third, they were to remember to keep the Deliverer’s commandments (Deuteronomy 16:12).
Paul reminds us that we were once dead in sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1-3), that God redeemed us from sin by making us alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-9), and we must walk in good works (Ephesians 2:10-12). He then summarizes: “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:11-12).
God has given us an ordinance designed to keep us from forgetting to remember who were where, who saved us and how, and what we owe: “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
CONNECTIONS Romans 6:15-19, Luke 7:36-40, Luke 41-47
1. Many of us were reared in a Christian environment, at least nominally. We may have never felt the full extent of the enslaving power of sin. The fact that Christ died for each of us individually should drive home the seriousness of sin. What does Paul say about our slavery (Romans 6:15-19)?
2. A Pharisee who did not perceive himself as a sinner once criticized Jesus for allowing a sinful woman to touch him (Luke 7:36-40). Jesus told a parable to illustrate that those who perceive themselves as having few if any sins will love him little (Luke 41-47). How do you perceive yourself: a little sinner or a big sinner?
