Don't Forget [Leviticus 20 and Psalm 78]
Psalm 78: (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
2 I will declare wise sayings;
I will speak mysteries from the past —
3 things we have heard and known
and that our fathers have passed down to us.
4 We must not hide them from their children, but must tell a future generation the praises of the LORD, His might, and the wonderful works He has performed. 5 He established a testimony in Jacob and set up a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children
6 so that a future generation—
children yet to be born—might know.
They were to rise and tell their children
7 so that they might put their confidence in God
and not forget God's works,
but keep His commandments.
As Leviticus continues to set forth the laws for the priests I thought it would be good to think again about the big picture. This passage in Psalms that I read yesterday helps us see the reason that they were to not only keep the law themselves but pass it on to future generations. "so that a future generation— children yet to be born—might know. They were to rise and tell their children so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God's works, but keep His commandments."
This week ends for our family a very precious two years of having our oldest daughter with her husband and four children living just a few blocks from our house. It was one of those things that I never imagined would happen since her husband is in the Marine Corps and Norfolk is generally not a place that Marine Corps send their pilots. As they are staying in our home while they pack out and clean, I am thanking God for the moments I have had to tell my grandchildren "the praises of the LORD, His might, and the wonderful works He has performed." I know there were moments when I forgot to tell them, missed opportunities. I am thankful for the Word of God that refreshes my soul with the truth and redeems even the lost moments. Now the challenge of not having them around faces me. I will need God's grace, His strength, to still make opportunities to tell them of God's works "so that they may put their confidence in God."
Father, we praise You that You are a God that does wonderful works. Your power is evident and Your law is pure. Cause the Grandparents reading this blog to diligently tell the future generations of You. Their parents need our support to pass this on to their children. You have performed wonderful works and we don't want to forget the details of how You have worked in our lives. Remind us today as we interact with the children we come in contact with who are eager to hear those stories.
(Lord, You know I am going to miss those sweet words, "Grandma, tell me a story." Please carry my sadness and comfort me as I grieve their leaving...)
Verna McCrillis, 6/28/2010