Remember the Lord
Open Your Bible
Deuteronomy 7:1-26, Deuteronomy 8:1-20, Deuteronomy 9:1-6, Matthew 4:1-11
BY Beth Joseph
Today I felt nostalgic for my sophomore year of college. It was during this year that God used a friend to draw me to the book of Deuteronomy in a fresh way.
That year, I met a friend (coincidentally named Amen) who had a deeper prayer life than mine. I longed to grow in intimacy with God through prayer like I saw present in her life. While Amen experienced prayer in a way that I wanted to understand, I had grown up in a faith tradition that focused more on Scripture. We quickly noticed that we both had a lot we could learn from each other, and as a result we started meeting every Tuesday and Thursday morning to pray and open God’s Word. The book we chose to start with was Deuteronomy.
As I was learning with Amen and growing deeper in my prayer life, I also experienced Scripture in an entirely new way. Reading the book of Deuteronomy made me want to live a life of obedience. Seeing how much God cared for His people, and observing His intentional provision and gracious patience, created within me an urgency to offer my entire life to Him in worship. Deuteronomy also taught me the importance of remembrance.
In today’s reading, we see Moses delivering an argument for why future obedience matters. Moses reminds his audience of the provision and care of God in their lifetime (Deuteronomy 8:2–3), while also warning them that it is easy to forget His faithfulness (v.14). He also cautions them to be careful of what they expose themselves to (Deuteronomy 7:16,25–26). Additionally, he draws their attention to what they have to hope for in the promised land (Deuteronomy 8:7–10).
Interestingly enough, the blessings of the promised land could possibly distract and lead its recipients into complacency and ungratefulness. Moses warned the Israelites to guard themselves from amnesia—one that forgets that God is the only reason you are at the moment, time, or place that you are. Moses communicates a profound truth here: to remember is to obey, and to forget is to disobey. Moses urges God’s people to understand the possible consequences of forgetfulness (vv.19–20).
Many years later, Jesus uses some of the words from today’s reading in Deuteronomy to withstand Satan’s temptations while in a vulnerable state of hunger (Matthew 4:2–4). Jesus demonstrates for us that remembrance of God’s Word brings victory over Satan’s attacks.
I needed today’s readings. I needed to remember why future obedience matters. And why remembrance is a key player in the effort to obey. May you and I cement in our minds today to remember and “don’t forget the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 8:11).
84 thoughts on "Remember the Lord"
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Praying for you and your family, Jane K. ❤️
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“To remember is to obey. To forget is to disobey” I’m a forgetful person so I think this is an important concept for me.
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Praying for you, Changed Life!!
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Thank you @ Searching for reposting this Scripture: 11 “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12 lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; 15 who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end— 17 then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’
I never really thought about what was being said here. God is telling them that after they have eaten and have houses, flocks, and other riches, to not forget. Of course, God knows we are prone to forget, but how loving to just lay it out. How often do I take the many blessings and provisions of God for granted? I may say thank you before eating and then complain, feel discontent, get anxious, worry, or long for something else in my life right after I just received a blessing.
Also, I have read or heard for years about them traveling through the wilderness, but the verses above hit me in a new way. He led them out of bondage just like He can lead us out of the bondage of sin, unforgiveness, jealousy, envy, addictions, depression, hopelessness, and more. There were harsh conditions there! (in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water) I guess I didn’t really think of all He protected them from and how amazing His provision was and is for us still today! God please forgive me and change me. Help me to be mindful, live a life of remembrance, and obey, and live with gratitude. You are Holy, all Powerful, and Sovereign, but yet You are mindful of us. May we praise and honor You and with the help of the Holy Spirit live lives that are worthy of Your calling. ThankYou, Giod!!Amen!
https://youtu.be/xIKx6iEJOzE
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I’m happy to hear the good news and praying for you all! -
ERB ❤️, nice that I can be an encouragement to YOU too!!
CHANGED LIFE, you AND He have got this!! I pray you are also reaching out to other resources that support your sobriety and know a ton about what works best (but individualized to you)!
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Praying for you, Changed Life. God is your helper and strength. You have a hopeful future. I’m believing it for you!!!!
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Lord, help us not forget to keep your commands and stay faithful to you. Teach us obedience Father!
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First week of Deuteronomy has been amazing and I have already learned so much (both from the study and you sweet sisters). I’ve never read this book before, so the Lord is really speaking to me with fresh scripture and instruction. Excited for next week!
Praying for everyone’s requests – have a blessed weekend, She’s! xx
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