From The Desk of Pastor Toby Powers
Truth Baptist Church
Bremen, GA
Remember
Deuteronomy 32:7
Intro: The book of Deuteronomy is the last of the books of the law… what is called the Pentateuch. The Jews sometimes called it “five-fifths of the Law.” The name Deuteronomy means “spoken twice”. Some have called it the “second law” or more appropriately, the second rendering of the law. The entire book is a reminder of the truths of God. Deuteronomy does not offer to Israel or unto us “new law,” but it gives to us a reminder of the established law of God that was given in the previous four books. In my estimation this verse is the key verse to the book. This verse commands Israel to do exactly what the entire book does… REMEMBER. Deuteronomy is a book about remembrance. 16 times in Deuteronomy the word remember or remembrance appears. Furthermore, these words are in some tense in your King James Bible some 320 times; therefore, not only is Deuteronomy a book about remembrance, but the whole Bible is a book about remembrance. Much of the work of the Scripture is to get us to remember and consider. The word “selah” is used in Psalms and Habakkuk some 74 times, and the purpose of it is to get one to pause and consider what was just said…
God sends preachers to get us to remember. He sends events to get us to remember. He sends people into our lives to get us to pause, remember, and consider. He sends trials, pain, heartbreak, and difficulty in our lives many times for the sole purpose of pressing us to pause, remember, and consider. I want to preach today with the Lord’s help and exhort you to “REMEMBER.”
Throughout the Bible there are more instances of a call to remember than I can chronicle in one sermon, but I want to consider a few:
I. REMEMBER THE LAND OF EGYPT: In this book of Deuteronomy the children of Israel were commanded to remember the land of Egypt:
Deut 5:15, “And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.”
Deut 15:15, “And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee.”
Moses called to their remembrance the suffering of slavery and the oppressive hand of Pharaoh. He reminded them how God rescued them with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. It serves as a reminder to the believer of a time when he too was enslaved and oppressed by sin, but the Lord sent deliverance!
Eph 2:11-13, “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
II. REMEMBER LOST LOVE: In Revelation Jesus spoke to the church at Ephesus, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Rev. 2:4-5). This world will distract you. Do you remember how you felt when God delivered you from Egypt? Do you remember how you just loved God so much that you could not get enough of God, church, and the Bible? What has happened? Do you still hold that same love? Do you still have that same zeal? Remember your lost love and return to it!
III. REMEMBER THE LOAVES: In Matthew 14, Jesus feeds 5,000 men plus women and children with five loaves and two fishes, and he had twelve baskets of scraps to spare! In Matthew 15 he feeds four thousand with seven loaves and a few fishes, and took seven baskets of scraps. In Matthew 16, Jesus loads on a ship with his apostles and tells them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and of Herod. He spoke of the doctrine of these groups of men, but the apostles did not understand. They looked at one another, counted their loaves of bread, and they thought that Jesus was angry that they had not brought enough bread for them to eat! Jesus reminded them in Matthew 16:9-10, “Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?” He told them to remember the loaves. In Mark 6:52 they were astonished and doubted concerning the calming of the sea, because they “considered not the miracle of the loaves.” If you have a need that seems too big or a situation that is out of control, REMEMBER THE LOAVES! Nothing is too big for God!
IV. REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE: these words of Christ are recorded in Luke 17:32. It was a call to remember how sin took her attention from the things of God to the things of this world. Remember how sin ravaged her family. Remember how she journeyed up a mountain fleeing the wrath of God on Sodom and Gomorrah. Remember how she turned in disobedience, lust, and rebellion, longing for the days of their sinful pleasures in Sodom, and she was turned to a pillar of salt. Remember Lot’s wife. Remember that sin does not pay!
V. REMEMBER LAZARUS: Luke 16 tells of Lazarus and the Rich man. Lazarus died and was carried off to Paradise, but the rich man died, was buried, and in Hell he lift his eyes in torment in the flame. He called for mercy from Abraham, but Abraham said, “Son, remember.” You may think you have a hard time remembering things here, but in Hell people never forget! Hell is a real place where real people go to burn in a real fire, and they are really there for eternity! The only escape is the forgiveness of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. If you reject this message today and pass into eternity without God, you will remember it in hell forever!
Conclusion: REMEMBER!
• THE LAND OF EGYPT REMINDS US OF GOD’S DELIVERANCE FROM SIN.
• THE LOST LOVE REMINDS US THAT THIS WORLD AND ITS CARES WILL DISTRACT US FROM SERVING GOD.
• THE LOAVES REMIND US OF THE MIRACULOUS PRIVISIONS OF OUR GOD.
• LOT’S WIFE REMINDS US THAT SIN HAS A PRICE. IT COSTS IMMENSELEY, BUT IT NEVER PAYS!
• LAZARUS AND THE RICH MAN REMIND US THAT ETERNITY WAITS US ALL. ARE YOU PREPARED TO MEET GOD?
REMEMBER!
