MEMORIAL DAY
(Remembering God's Grace - May 30, 2021)
Series Big Idea: "Memorials are tributes to God, not human achievements"
Sermon Big Idea: "Used in the correct way, memorials can help the Christian remember God's love, strength, and help"
Key Scripture (Joshua 4:21-24)
Monday we will observe Memorial Day in America. It is a day we remember the men and women who have given their very lives to protect and serve this great country. I stand in remembrance of each and every person and I also stand in honor of all who serve actively presently. We will never forget what they have given to keep our land free.
There are other ways of remembering that have meaning and create emotion in each one us. The Red Cross, the Vietnam War Memorial and others stir emotions that remind us of the importance of these events. But throughout the Bible the Lord encourages His people to use images like the bread and the cup for the Lord's Supper to help us as Christians to remember as well as stir our hearts.
Our text today consists of three parts. The first in Joshua 4:1-9 describe two memorials: the twelve stones that were taken from the Jordan riverbed and placed at the camp, Gilgal, and twelve stones set in the riverbed. Verses 10-13 are repeating the event of the actual crossing that was reported in Chapter 3. Verses 14-24 describe in detail the final stages of the crossing of the Jordan River and focuses on the purposes of the memorials and the crossing. Now we come to verse 21.
(Joshua 4:21-24)
21 and he said to the Israelites, “In the future, when your children ask their fathers, ‘What is the meaning of these stones?’ 22 you should tell your children, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over. 24 This is so that all the people of the earth may know that the LORD’s hand is mighty, and so that you may always fear the LORD your God.”
We see here that God alone is worthy of worship because He is mighty in power and gracious in love to His people at the Red Sea and at the Jordan River. So, Israel's memorials are tributes to God not to human achievements. They are reflecting a living faith in the Lord and He receives it. These stone memorials are constant reminders of what God has done for Israel.
Memorials are for the living, not the dead. They are to help us contemplate and reverence our Lord God. Yes, they are tributes to what God has done in the past, but more they are calling for a change in the present. The main theme is the worship of God.
We are reminded by remembering that unity is in the Lord and His one body, the Church (Ephesians 4:1-16). There are still future generations that need the Lord and will come to faith in Him (Hebrews 11:39-40). The Lord provides two memorials for us to recall the story of Jesus: baptism and the Lord's Supper. These are designed by the Lord to keep the Church focused on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-5).
CONCLUSION
There may be something you place in your home or workplace to continually remind you of the Lord's power, goodness, love, and faithfulness. I would challenge you though, the best way to do this would be to have daily prayer with your family and you may even consider observing the Lord's Supper in your home once a week. Whatever you decide, these can become opportunities to tell others about Christ.
Pastor Beaver's thoughts and ideals for this message, are inspired by:
Holman Christian Standard Bible
English Standard Version Bible
King James Version Bible
Christian Standard Bible
The Bible Knowledge Commentary by John F. Walvoord/Roy B. Zuck
The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge by Jerome H. Smith
Water, Mark, ed. Encyclopedia of Bible Facts. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004. WORDsearch CROSS e-book.
Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.
NIV, Archaeological Study Bible, eBook: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture
Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Duane Garrett, and Walter C. Kaiser Jr.
NIV, First-Century Study Bible, eBook: Explore Scripture in Its Jewish and Early Christian Context
Zondervan, Kent Dobson, and Ed Dobson
Hughes, Robert B. and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1990. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. Revised edition of New Bible Companion.
Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887. Print.
Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933. Print.
MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006. Print.
Gangel, Kenneth O. Joshua. Ed. Max Anders. B&H Publishing Group, 2002. Print. Holman Old Testament Commentary.
Mathews, Kenneth A. Joshua. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.
Hubbard, Robert L., Jr. Joshua. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009. Print. The NIV Application Commentary.
Coleson, Joseph, Lawson G. Stone, and Jason Driesbach. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Joshua, Judges, Ruth. Ed. Philip W. Comfort. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2012. Print. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary.
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