Those Of Us who deal with children often find ourselves saying, “I know that, you know this, but….” We say this implying that, although the young person is cognizant of a particular fact, he/she is unlikely to act upon it in the required manner or might forget it altogether. If the situation causes irritation and exasperation, perhaps it would be helpful to stop and consider that on a spiritual plain we are guilty of a similar behavioral pattern.
Through the scriptures we have knowledge of the requirements of God, yet we fail to put them into practice and at times conveniently suppress or forget them. Why is it that although we have the scriptures to guide us, and it is in our best interests to obediently follow them, we neglect to do so? Even with the Lord Jesus Christ as our template and constant reminder, we fail miserably. The answer is provided by the apostle Paul; it is the principle of the sin potential
in our nature: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not; that I do” (Rom. 7:18-19).
Memory tools
Thankfully God understands our weakness, and at various times in history He has provided memory aides to help overcome human proclivity to forgetfulness in regard to His commandments. A good example is the blue fringes that the Israelites were instructed to add to their garments:
Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments… that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them (Num. 15:38-40).
So earnest was God’s desire to see the nation remember His commandments, that He instructed the Israelites to bind symbols on their foreheads, hands and paint them on their door frames:
These commandments… shall be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates (Deut. 6:6-8 NIV).
The great feast of Passover, compulsory for Jews throughout all generations, was specifically designed by God as a memorial of the deliverance from the angel of death. As a preliminary to the feast day, the people had to abstain from eating leavened bread as a reminder of the hasty departure from Egypt with unfinished bread in the pans. It also served as a stimulus to curiosity and questions:
On that day you will tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt. This observance will be for you like a sign… and a reminder… that the Law of the Lord is to be on your lips (Ex. 13:8-9 NIV).
Perhaps the ultimate method chosen by the Lord God for memory enhancement was animal sacrifice. The graphic rite, when properly understood by the participants, was a somber reminder that sin could only be forgiven by the shedding of innocent blood, anticipating the lamb who would take away the sin of the world.
Remember the promises
Peter uses the same theme: “I know you know this but….” when, prior to his imminent death, he exhorts the Christians to diligently concentrate upon the great and precious promises given to their forefathers, not as a passive academic process, but as a catalyst for transformation of character with the resultant fruitfulness. Of course, Peter was aware that his compatriots had been schooled in these promises since childhood and, as followers of the gospel, understood their fulfillment in Christ. The apostle however, understood from first-hand experience how easily the fire of enthusiasm for Christ can be extinguished by the weakness of the flesh:
Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth (II Peter 1:13).
The exhortation reaches down the centuries to us also, for the worries of this life can so quickly choke out the spirit of God in our lives. Perhaps the same message in the following chapter is even more pertinent, living as we do in the last days:
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets. ..that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? (II Peter 3:1-3).
Jude uses the same technique:
“Though you already know all this, I want to remind you… the Lord delivered his people… but later destroyed those who did not believe” (Jude 5 NIV).
What is the rationale for using the strategy of memory aids? The answer must be that the proponent presupposes that although the audience is cognizant of the particular subject, there is a very real danger that it will be suppressed and lost.
Learning from history
It is a paradox that irrespective of our dedication to the truths we hold dear, we still need to be put in remembrance of them. One way of ensuring that these things remain current in our minds is through the habit of daily Bible reading. Absorbing and reflecting on the Good News of the Kingdom of God is always a stimulant to hope and rekindles the feeling of “inexpressible joy” we all experienced at baptism.
Another important factor is:
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (Rom. 15:4).
The spiritual failure of Israel happened in spite of the physical ‘aide-memoires’ we have considered. Tragically, these became testimonies to the character of a people focused on self, instead of God. The very things that God had decreed to be used as memory prodders led to blasphemy! Door posts that should have been marked to remind the Israelites of His commandments became associated with pagan symbols: “Behind your doors and doorposts you have put pagan symbols” (Is. 57:8 NIV). In Habakkuk and Haggai we are told how people brought imperfect sacrifices, and holy ordinances degenerated into orgies of feasting.
As for the tassels and phylacteries, Jesus directed scathing criticism upon the wearers:
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments…. (Matt: 23 : 5-6).
These divinely appointed customs became empty rituals and the means for showing off.
All of us should be conscious that the shortcomings of Israel are easily duplicated in the ecclesia today. It behoves us to ensure that the motivating force for our actions is not just to be “seen of men” or that the pagan symbols of this age are not hidden behind our doorposts.
The memorials
Now as we turn our thoughts to the emblems set before us, we recognize the wisdom of the Lord. Like Israel of old we are privileged to have insight and understanding of the ways of God through His word and we can identify with the phrase, “I know that you know these things but….”
Aware of the flawed nature we bear with its consequent instability and limitations, our Savior instituted the memorial feast to ensure that his victory over sin and death may always be fresh in our memory.
Reflection upon these profound blessings should produce the desire to change our behavior. The psalmist identifies the attitude that we can adopt immediately: “I will delight myself in your statutes: I will not forget your word” (Ps. 119:16).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One