Bible study, Deuteronomy, remembrance, tradition, ceremony, testimony

Every year there is a remembrance ceremony held at Pearl Harbor. Likewise at Normandy to commemorate D-Day. We hold annual ceremonies at Ground Zero in NY to remember the events of 9/11. These are all good things. They remind us of the past and act as a warning to avoid similar things in the future.

God instructed Israel to keep their own remembrance traditions as well. He wanted them to remember the past, but no for its own sake. Instead, he wanted them to remember so that the present would be impacted. He wanted their remembrance to be a testimony to the rest of the world. With that being the case, their ceremonies and traditions had a deeper meaning. God never intended them to become vain, empty, and meaningless. As Gentiles grafted into God's family, there is a lesson in this for us Christians.