It seems to be in our nature to forget. History teaches us lessons, yet time and again, we see patterns repeat because we forget the past. Whether it’s forgetting the hard-learned lessons of war, the boom and bust cycles of economies, or even the causes behind great social reforms, our collective memory often fails us.
The Bible is replete with instances showing how easily people forget God. In the time of the Judges, Israel would follow God under the leadership of a judge, but after the judge died, they would quickly forget His ways and turn to idolatry.
This cycle repeated itself several times, showing how quickly human beings can forget their spiritual heritage and the goodness of God.
King Solomon, despite being granted immense wisdom and blessings from God, allowed his heart to turn away due to the influence of his foreign wives and their gods (1 Kings 11:4). This shows even the wisest among us are susceptible to forgetfulness.
Deuteronomy’s Recipe for Remembrance
In Deuteronomy 6, we find clear instructions aimed at preventing this forgetfulness.
WHO WE REMIND
Verse 2 of Deuteronomy 6 emphasizes the importance of teaching our sons and daughters to fear the Lord all the days of their life.
It’s a family-centered commandment, urging us to embed the principles of faith within our home life to ensure that neither we nor our children forget.
HOW WE REMEMBER
Verses 6 through 9 of Deuteronomy 6 list practical ways to keep God’s commandments in our hearts:
1. Keep these words in your heart and soul– Internalizing God’s word is the first step toward living it out daily.
2. Teach them diligently to your children– Regular, intentional conversations about the Lord can help ingrain its principles in young minds.
3. Talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up– Make discussions about faith a natural part of daily life.
4. Bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes– This can be understood symbolically to mean that our actions (hands) and thoughts (forehead) should reflect God’s commandments.
5. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates– Keeping visible reminders of faith in our living spaces can help reinforce our spiritual priorities.
WHY WE REMEMBER
Verses 11 and 12 warn of the dangers of forgetting God, especially when life is abundant and we feel self-sufficient. Prosperity can lead to forgetfulness, which in turn can cause us to stray from the path God has set for us.
This dangerous cycle has real costs, both spiritually and often physically, as turning away from God’s protective and guiding hand can lead to losing God’s blessing on our life.
Forgetting God is a path that leads to losing the very blessings we cherished and prayed for. It’s a stark reminder of why constant remembrance is critical.
