Day 134: Don't forget . . . - Deuteronomy 6 vs 1 - 12

1-3 This is the command - the statutes and ordinances - the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you may follow them in the land you are about to enter and possess. Do this so that you may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life by keeping all his statutes and commands I am giving you, your son, and your grandson, and so that you may have a long life. Listen, Israel, and be careful to follow them, so that you may prosper and multiply greatly, because the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you a land flowing with milk and honey.

4-5 Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6-9 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.

10-12 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that he would give you - a land with large and beautiful cities that you did not build, houses full of every good thing that you did not fill them with, cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant - and when you eat and are satisfied, be careful not to forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery. (Christian Standard Bible)

The Bible is truly a wonderful book. It's the record of what God spoke through those He raised up to be prophets so that we can know Him and understand the way He wants us to live. It tells us what's on God's mind. What did vs 1-3 tell Israel that obedience to God's word would lead to, and what does that tell us about God's intentions for people?

Some people say God's ‘rules’ rob people of fun; I'd say the opposite is true. God's instructions will enrich our understanding and give our lives direction and purpose. What do vs 4-9 show as to how we should use God's word?

We see in vs 4-5 that we start by loving the one who has loved us and freed us from sin's slavery, and given us such hope in the world. Vs 6-9 show that we must read His word thoughtfully and take His teachings to our heart and not only our head. We should also talk about them to one another, and this shouldn't be a chore, or something we only do on a Sunday. Talking about what God has shown us should be natural throughout the day, and especially in conversations with our children. But what is the big danger that vs 10-12 warn us of?

It seems that as possessions increase (even though God gave us the strength to get them) we can become more independent and forget who it was who opened our eyes to the deepest joy a man or woman can ever have. Comfort and riches can be deceptive. In the case of Israel, they were going to inherit cities and homes they had not even built. But Christians can also get caught up with the riches and cares of this world and forget the message by which God saves us. The Bible gets put aside and other things dominate our daily conversations.

It's a sad thing for any of us to be forgotten by family, or by people we've shown kindness to. But how much sadder when men and women forget God and the wonderful message of His love in giving His only begotten Son so that we can be saved. Moses said to Israel “Be careful not to forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.” How much more should Christians never forget who it was that rescued them from being slaves to sin.