“Their children, who do not know this law [God’s commandments], must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” – Deuteronomy 31:13
“Take to heart all the words I [God] have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you – they are your life.” – Deuteronomy 32:46-47
“After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” – Judges 2:10
Over the past two weeks, we’ve looked at Deuteronomy 8 and saw how much emphasis God placed on the country of Israel, God’s chosen nation, to remember what He’s done for them and how He’s taken care of their needs in ordinary and miraculous ways. This is a dominant theme of the Old Testament, a constant melody that plays in the background of several hundred years’ worth of history of the Hebrews.
We’ve seen that Israel can be used as an example of how God will bless the countries that follow Him, and also an example of how God will punish the countries that forget Him. We’ve listened to God’s warnings not to fall into the false perception of how everything we have is by our own hand. We’ve learned that remembrance of God’s goodness is the key to remaining humble and true, and to claiming His blessings.
Now, here, we make a transition from remembrance to teaching. If remembering God’s goodness is one of the main melodious refrains that runs through the Old Testament, then teaching about it is its counterpoint. There is just as much admonition and emphasis from God to teach our children about Him and His good works as there is to remember Him.
This makes sense, especially once you take some time to consider how history works. Can you imagine if no one who lived before us left any historical records? Can you imagine a world where no one had any clue what happened before they were born? People would constantly repeat the same mistakes of the previous generation over and over. Truths and lessons would be lost.
Unfortunately, this happened to Israel. As you can see in the last verse, from the book of Judges, that I inserted above, an entire generation of children had grown up and become adults without knowing who God was and what He had done for their country previously. Their parents had not done their job and consequently a generation had gone corrupt, sending the nation of Israel down a rocky road.
We, as parents, ministry leaders, youth leaders, volunteers, church members, and whatever capacity we serve in life, have a responsibility to the generations that come after us to teach them through words and actions about the wonders and the goodness of God and what He’s done for us and for those who’ve come before us.
So, this week, I encourage you to think about your story and how God has worked in your life for good, and how you can share it to someone who’s younger than yourself. How can you teach someone about God and pass on His truth today? Remember, it is LIFE that you are passing on.
– Matt
churchDeuteronomyJudgesministry leaderparentremembersharestoryteachyouth leader
Don’t Forget (Parentally), Pt. III
June 20, 2013
Calvary
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Matt
“Their children, who do not know this law [God’s commandments], must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” – Deuteronomy 31:13
“Take to heart all the words I [God] have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you – they are your life.” – Deuteronomy 32:46-47
“After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” – Judges 2:10
Over the past two weeks, we’ve looked at Deuteronomy 8 and saw how much emphasis God placed on the country of Israel, God’s chosen nation, to remember what He’s done for them and how He’s taken care of their needs in ordinary and miraculous ways. This is a dominant theme of the Old Testament, a constant melody that plays in the background of several hundred years’ worth of history of the Hebrews.
We’ve seen that Israel can be used as an example of how God will bless the countries that follow Him, and also an example of how God will punish the countries that forget Him. We’ve listened to God’s warnings not to fall into the false perception of how everything we have is by our own hand. We’ve learned that remembrance of God’s goodness is the key to remaining humble and true, and to claiming His blessings.
Now, here, we make a transition from remembrance to teaching. If remembering God’s goodness is one of the main melodious refrains that runs through the Old Testament, then teaching about it is its counterpoint. There is just as much admonition and emphasis from God to teach our children about Him and His good works as there is to remember Him.
This makes sense, especially once you take some time to consider how history works. Can you imagine if no one who lived before us left any historical records? Can you imagine a world where no one had any clue what happened before they were born? People would constantly repeat the same mistakes of the previous generation over and over. Truths and lessons would be lost.
Unfortunately, this happened to Israel. As you can see in the last verse, from the book of Judges, that I inserted above, an entire generation of children had grown up and become adults without knowing who God was and what He had done for their country previously. Their parents had not done their job and consequently a generation had gone corrupt, sending the nation of Israel down a rocky road.
We, as parents, ministry leaders, youth leaders, volunteers, church members, and whatever capacity we serve in life, have a responsibility to the generations that come after us to teach them through words and actions about the wonders and the goodness of God and what He’s done for us and for those who’ve come before us.
So, this week, I encourage you to think about your story and how God has worked in your life for good, and how you can share it to someone who’s younger than yourself. How can you teach someone about God and pass on His truth today? Remember, it is LIFE that you are passing on.
– Matt
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churchDeuteronomyJudgesministry leaderparentremembersharestoryteachyouth leader