The common theme from each of our readings today is “do not forget the Lord.” We may wonder how that’s possible, but then we look around at our own culture, and we recognize that - in its general beliefs and practices - our culture parallels the ancient Israelites. Each of today’s readings testifies to (1) God’s love, mercy, grace, and blessings that He lavishly showers down upon us, and (2) our complete dependence upon Him for every benefit that we receive and enjoy. In Deuteronomy 6-8, Moses warns the Israelites, “their children, and their children after them to fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all His decrees and commands … so that you may enjoy long life” (verse 2). We see here that God was concerned not only about that generation which He led through the wilderness, but also about future generations so that they might “increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers promised you” (verse 3). God never intended for Israel to remain a small or insignificant nation. He warned his people against living complacent lifestyles that would allow and encourage them to develop the same evil practices and burdens of other nations around them. In verses 4-5, we see the greatest of all commandments: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” By following this command, the Israelites would defeat, drive out, and destroy the seven nations larger and stronger than they were. If they did this, they would also receive God’s “love, blessings, increase, and lives that were free of disease” (cf., Deuteronomy 7:13-15). In chapter 8, God admonishes them not to forget Him. Notice the verbs: Remember (verses 2 and 18); observe (verse 6); praise (verse 10); and be careful (verse 11). Finally, God’s warning – delivered through Moses: “If you ever forget the LORD … you will surely be destroyed … destroyed … destroyed (verse 19, note repetition).
In Psalm 42:1-6 we see how God has created us with an innate need for Him. Our souls literally “pant and thirst for Him” (verses 1-2). Nothing else can satisfy or quench our thirst for God. Blaise Pascal, the French philosopher and mathematician, said that “in the heart of every man, there is a God shaped vacuum which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.” Unless people fill the need of their souls with the only kind of living Water that can satisfy that need (cf., John 4:14 and 7:38), their souls will remain “downcast” (verse 5). “Remembering God” (verse 6) and “putting our hope in Him” (verse 5) is the only solution that can treat a “downcast soul” (verse 5).
In Luke 11:33-54, Jesus equated a downcast soul with one that is “burdened” (verse 46). Burdens include such things as darkness, greed, wickedness, persecution, murder, inordinate human affections and expectations, and hypocrisy – to name a few just from today’s reading in Luke (cf., verses 33-51). Interestingly, many of these same burdens are not only visible in our own so-called modern culture, but also they are characteristic of it. How did we get here? Like the Israelites, we have collectively erased the Lord from our national awareness and consciousness. If we are carful to remember and observe these historical practices among the Israelites, then we can’t help but notice that God destroyed them. Why should our culture expect to receive anything better?
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