Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
Deuteronomy 4:9
Growing up it became apparent that I was blessed with a remarkable memory. I had tremendous recall for things I heard and things I read. This was a great help academically but only to the extent that I listened in class and read the assignments. Because I often daydreamed, I did not always learn the information the teachers wanted me to learn.
When I got to college, I was able to study things that I was interested in. That made a world of difference.
Sadly, I am now heading into a stage when I remember many things I don’t need to recall, and occasionally struggle to recall the things I want to remember.
God warned his people to be diligent about remembering what he had done and what he had commanded. This applies to us as well.
Our job is not only to remember for ourselves. It is to teach these things to the next generation. This helps us to remember, and it will ensure that those who follow us are given reason to trust in the Lord.
My people, hear my teaching;
listen to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth with a parable;
I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
things we have heard and known,
things our ancestors have told us.
We will not hide them from their descendants;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done.
He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our ancestors
to teach their children,
so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.
Then they would put their trust in God
and would not forget his deeds
but would keep his commands.
Psalm 78:1-7
I may live a long time like my parents who died at eighty-seven and ninety-nine. But like them, I may have years when I suffer severe memory loss. I want to use my time and resources passing on the testimony of what God has done and what God has said, especially to the young.
When King David died, he was younger than I am now. In his earlier years he wrote Psalm 71. In summer of 1975 when I was just out of college and engaged to be married, I claimed several verses from this Psalm as my prayer.
As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.
Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
Psalm 71:14-19
I cling to the truth that no matter how much I may forget someday, God will not forget me.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
