How can we apply the principle of remembrance from Deuteronomy 27:4 today? Setting the Scene—Mount Ebal’s Plastered Stones • Deuteronomy 27:4: “And when you have crossed the Jordan, you shall set up these stones on Mount Ebal, just as I am commanding you today, and coat them with plaster.” • Israel was to write the words of the law on freshly plastered stones as a permanent, public witness. • The act fixed God’s covenant in collective memory and prepared the nation for obedience in the new land. Why God Calls His People to Remember • Memory undergirds faith: “I will remember the works of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old” (Psalm 77:11). • Forgetfulness breeds rebellion (Judges 2:10–12). • Remembrance fuels worship and gratitude (Psalm 103:2). • It passes the faith on: “So that this may be a sign among you… that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD” (Joshua 4:6–7). New-Covenant Echoes of the Same Principle • Communion: “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). • The written Word within: “I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts” (Hebrews 10:16). • Ongoing reminders: “I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them” (2 Peter 1:12). Practical Ways to Build ‘Modern Ebal Stones’ Personal • Keep a physical Bible open and visible in your home; let its presence preach. • Journal answered prayers and Scripture promises; revisit those pages regularly. • Memorize key verses and recite them aloud during daily routines. Family • Create a “faith timeline” on a wall or poster that marks family milestones with God’s help (salvation dates, healings, provision). • Celebrate spiritual birthdays and baptism anniversaries as intentionally as physical birthdays. • Read Scripture at the dinner table, connecting passages to current events and family challenges. Church • Testimony segments in services, highlighting recent conversions or interventions. • Visible Scripture art and plaques in hallways, foyers, classrooms. • Annual “stone-setting” services—congregants bring items or brief notes symbolizing God’s work that year, then archive or display them. Community • Public service projects tied to Bible verses (e.g., feeding the hungry under a banner of Matthew 25:35). • Social-media testimonies that cite Scripture and concrete outcomes, leaving a digital record for future scrolling. • Scripture-engraved benches, bricks, or garden stones in shared spaces. Guardrails Against Empty Ritual • Couple every symbol with spoken or written explanation (Joshua 4:21–24). • Ensure practices deepen obedience, not just nostalgia (James 1:22). • Keep Christ central; every remembrance points to Him (Colossians 1:17–18). A Closing Encouragement to Act Today Set up your own “stones” before this day ends—something tangible, visible, and Scripture-anchored. Let it prompt conversation, stir worship, and keep God’s mighty works blazing in your heart and in the hearts of those who follow after you. |
    |