THE DANGER OF FORGETTING
Deuteronomy 8:11
Morning Meditation 4/14/2013
"Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:"
This verse suggests that when one ceases to keep God's commandments it is equal to forgetting Him. There is danger in forgetting Him and what He had done for us in the past.
FORGET NOT HOW THOU PROVOKEDST THE LORD THY GOD
Deuteronomy 9:7, "Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD."
Israel provoked the LORD continually. It was not just an individual act that happened one time. Israel never learned from her past mistakes. The LORD reminded them, "how thy provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness." The word "provoke" means, "to anger, enrage, exasperate, or vex." While God is longsuffering and very patient, He can be enraged at the conduct of His people especially when they do something that they have been warned about and chastened for in the past.
They needed to remember the past offenses. These are lessons that should have taught them that God will not tolerate certain things. Why do you think God is saying, "Remember, and forget not . . . ?" God loves them and does not want to turn His wrath loose on them. If you are warned over and over again, who do you have to blame if you come under the rod? You might say, "God just gets a kick out of chastening His people. Not if He warns them over and over again. His warnings are His attempts to avoid chastening.
When sin is repeated, not much intelligence is being exercised. When I was a boy and my grand parents were rearing me, I would get very upset when I was corrected for certain things. The anger came out in sassing my grandmother. I would have my say. Then I would be encouraged to apologize for this irreverent action with a big stick. I have been whipped until blood ran down my legs. First of all, let's settle one thing. I deserved it though I didn't think so at the time. My grand mother loved me. She had the idea if I were made to mind her, I would have less trouble later obeying the law. She was right. Somewhere along the line I began to ask myself questions like, "Do I ever win an argument with my grandmother? No. What good did my sassing do? No good at all. How could I do damage control on my extreme anatomy? The answer was not long in coming. Don't sass my grandmother. Mind her no matter how hard it hurts. When I do that, there is no whipping. I win!!! When my grandmother scolds me for something, don't look mad. Look like I appreciate her warning. I win. I decided I was the only one who was getting hurt when I lost control and talked disrespectfully to my grandmother. I did it one more time. Grandmother didn't hear me but granddad did. The first thing I knew he had picked me up with one hand by the nap of the neck. My feet were off the ground. I had no traction!!! I was running in place!!! My granddad didn't use any kind of profanity. I really think he wanted to that time. But he turned purple in the face. He was trembling as he held me in that suspended position. It was like being on a vibrating machine where you try to shake off the fat! I said, "Granddad!!! I take it back!!! I didn't mean it. I'll never do that again. I begged and pleaded and he very gently lowered me to the ground. He said, "If you ever sass your grandmother again, I will give you a whipping that you will never forget. " I was convinced. He didn't have to repeat it twice. And I never sassed my grandmother again. I prayed like this. Lord, I know there's a God. You just saved my life and I'm very grateful. God told Israel to remember!!! That should have been enough. It was for me. Next,
FORGET NOT THE WORKS OF GOD
Psalms 78:7 says, "That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:"
Hope is the joyful anticipation of a reality. God's promises, even though they may not have happened yet, are as sure as if they had. The words, "and not forget the works of God," are intended to motivate to action. When you think of what God has done, it is not difficult to believe He can do what is presently needed.
Jesus cleansed the lepers. A leper was under a death sentence. It would be like telling a person he had AIDS. There was no cure in that day for leprosy. However, there was always hope for those who believed in God. Psalms 103:2-3 says, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;" Jesus cleansed the lepers, opened blinded eyes, and raised Lazarus after he had been dead four days. Jesus said, "I have power to lay my life down and have the power to take it up again," and He did. God tells us not to forget the Works of God.
FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS
Psalms 103:2 says, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:" The word benefits refers to the many blessings a child of God gets from Him in the process of serving Him. God blesses His children in so many ways.
We can enter the holiest with boldness in prayer. Hebrews 4:15-16, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
The assurance of salvation is one of the benefits of being God's child. 1 John 5:13, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." How many religions do you know of that can say, "I know I am saved and I know I'm going to heaven when I die." Any religion that believes in works for salvation would be presumptuous to say, "I know I'm saved." A person who believes in works for salvation must wait and see if he has enough good works to save him. If one is saved by faith in Christ, then he is saved by Christ's works. We know that Christ met the standard when He gave Himself for us. So our trust is in Him. Next,
FORGET NOT MY WORD
2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Acts 6:4 says, "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."
The word of God is the seed by which we are born again. 1 Peter 1:23, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."
It is our guide. Psalms 32:8 says, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." The instruction and teaching comes through the Word.
We should memorize the Word of God so we will have it when we are away from the Word of God. Many times the Lord brings a Scripture to my mind that I had memorized years ago to give me just what I need to hear from Him at the time.
FORGET NOT TO DO GOOD AND COMMUNICATE
Hebrews 13:16 says, "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."
The words "do good" speaks of excellence in service. It is referring to helping someone. The word "communicate" means, "joint participation, it also means giving of one's means to help the needy.
Romans 15:26 says, "For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem." The word "contribution" is the translation of the same Greek word.
We have so much going on in our world today, we can become so occupied with the daily routine that we forget our responsibilities to God. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Our problem is that we just turn this around. We seek first to provide "these things," and hope we have time after all that is done to serve the Lord.
May the Lord help us not to forget the important things in life. May we put Him first and when we do, all the rest will fall into place and those who depend on us will be better served.
In Christ
Bro. White
