Memorials

by Micky Galloway

Deuteronomy 4:9, “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes saw, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but make them known unto thy children and thy children’s children.”

Deuteronomy 8:11-14, “Beware lest thou forget Jehovah thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his ordinances, and his statutes, which I command thee this day … then thy heart be lifted up, and thou forget Jehovah thy God, who brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”

Proverbs 4:5, “Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth.”

This weekend our nation celebrates Memorial Day. It is a day in which our country remembers the dead servicemen of all wars. Though there are many that claim to be the first to celebrate Memorial Day, it is generally agreed that Major General John A. Logan first celebrated Memorial Day in Waterloo, New York on May 5, 1866 to honor soldiers killed in the American Civil War.

Memorials are found throughout the Bible and history in general. A “memorial” is defined as, “something that keeps remembrance alive” (Webster’s Online Dictionary). Why do we need something to help us remember? Perhaps because we tend with the passing of time to forget.

Remember those who have gone before us. The brethren in Jerusalem remembered Peter and earnestly prayed for him, “but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him” (Acts 12:5). After reminding the Thessalonians of his affliction (I Thessalonians 3:3-4), Paul wanted them to not be discouraged and to remember his desire to see them. “…that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also (to see) you” (I Thessalonians 3:6). From a Roman prison Paul asked the Ephesians to pray for him. “And on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:19-20). “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are ill-treated, as being yourselves also in the body” (Hebrews 13:3). Remember the faith of others and be encouraged. “By faith Abel … By faith Enoch … By faith Noah … By faith Abraham … By faith Sarah … Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets” and so many “others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (of whom the world was not worthy) …” (cf. Hebrews 11). Let us remember those whose names (and the unnamed) are recorded for all history, “seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us …” (Hebrews 12:1).

Above all let us remember Jesus, “… the author and perfecter of (our) faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls” (Hebrews 12:2-3). As we observe the Lord’s Supper in particular, let us think of the words, “this do in remembrance of me” (I Corinthians 11:24).

Bible memorials. The Passover Feast was a memorial of God’s deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Egypt (Exodus 3:15; 12:14). Twelve stones were placed near Jericho where Israel had crossed the Jordan river as a memorial of the miraculous crossing into the promised land (Joshua 4:6-7, 9). In the observance of these memorials there was the valuable opportunity to teach the mighty works of God. Exodus 12:26-27, “And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? that ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of Jehovah’s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshiped.” Joshua 4:21-22 says, “And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.” Certainly, the Lord’s Supper serves as a living memorial of the suffering, death, and promised return of the Lord (Luke 22:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-26).

Benefit of memorials. The Passover reminded Israel of their history and their future. It looked to the day when the Messiah would die for the people. The stones in the Jordan reminded Israel of God’s power and grace in bringing them into the land of Canaan. The Lord’s Supper reminds us of our Lord’s sacrifice for our sins. This should motivate us to live for Him, and to serve Him diligently. As long as we faithfully serve the Lord and observe His Supper, we will remember Him and the great things He has done! For those who do not, Paul said, “he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body. For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep” (I Corinthians 11:29-30). Spiritual sickness and death are certain if we forget!

Memorials are very important for a nation, for the family, and especially is it important that the church keep the memorial feast of the Lord.