Topical Encyclopedia Forgetting God and His past deliverances is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, highlighting the human tendency to overlook divine intervention and guidance. This forgetfulness often leads to spiritual decline, disobedience, and a departure from God's commandments.Old Testament Instances 1. Israel in the Wilderness: After the miraculous exodus from Egypt, the Israelites frequently forgot God's mighty acts. Despite witnessing the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the provision of manna, they often complained and doubted God's ability to provide. In Deuteronomy 8:11-14, Moses warns them, "Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God by failing to keep His commandments and ordinances and statutes which I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase, and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud, and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." 2. The Period of the Judges: The cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance in the Book of Judges illustrates Israel's forgetfulness. Judges 3:7 states, "And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs." This forgetfulness led to their oppression by surrounding nations until they cried out to God for deliverance. 3. King David's Psalms: David often reminded the people of God's past deeds to prevent forgetfulness. In Psalm 103:2, he exhorts, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds." This call to remembrance serves as a spiritual discipline to maintain faithfulness. New Testament Insights 1. Jesus' Teachings: Jesus emphasized the importance of remembering God's works. In the feeding of the 5,000 and the 4,000, He reminded His disciples of these miracles when they worried about provision (Mark 8:18-21). This highlights the need to recall God's past faithfulness in times of doubt. 2. The Apostolic Writings: The apostles frequently reminded early Christians of God's deliverance through Christ. In 2 Peter 1:9, Peter warns, "But whoever lacks these qualities is nearsighted and blind, having forgotten his purification from his past sins." This forgetfulness can lead to spiritual stagnation and ineffectiveness. Theological Implications Forgetting God's past deliverances is not merely a lapse in memory but a spiritual issue that reflects a heart turned away from God. It often results in idolatry, self-reliance, and moral decay. The Bible consistently calls believers to remember God's works as a means of fostering gratitude, obedience, and faithfulness. The act of remembrance is integral to worship and is often facilitated through rituals, feasts, and the retelling of God's mighty acts. Practical Applications 1. Regular Remembrance: Believers are encouraged to regularly recount God's past deliverances in personal and communal worship settings. This can be done through prayer, testimony, and the study of Scripture. 2. Spiritual Disciplines: Engaging in spiritual disciplines such as meditation on God's Word, journaling, and participating in the Lord's Supper can help prevent spiritual forgetfulness. 3. Teaching and Discipleship: Passing down accounts of God's faithfulness to the next generation is crucial. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 instructs, "These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." By actively remembering God's past deliverances, believers can maintain a vibrant and faithful relationship with Him, avoiding the pitfalls of forgetfulness that have plagued God's people throughout history. Nave's Topical Index Judges 8:34And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: Nave's Topical Index Psalm 78:42 Library The Continuation of the Story The Church. Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices. Epistle of Paul to the Philippians. Appendix ix. List of Old Testament Passages Messianically Applied ... The Desire of the Righteous Granted; An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ... Resources Why does Exodus 35:2 require the death penalty for working on the Sabbath? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I heal from the hurt of a broken relationship? | GotQuestions.org What is the "church of Oprah"? Is Eckhart Tolle's "New Earth" compatible with Christianity? | GotQuestions.org Forgetting: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Forgetting God is Forgetting his Covenant Forgetting God is Forgetting His: Benefits Forgetting God is Forgetting His: Covenant Forgetting God is Forgetting His: Law Forgetting God is Forgetting His: Past Deliverance Forgetting God is Forgetting His: Power to Deliver Forgetting God is Forgetting His: Word Forgetting God is Forgetting His: Works Forgetting God: A Characteristic of the Wicked Forgetting God: Backsliders are Guilty of Forgetting God: Backsliders Guilty of Forgetting God: Cautions Against Forgetting God: Encouraged by False Teachers Forgetting God: Exhortation to Those Guilty of Forgetting God: Past Deliverances Forgetting God: Power to Deliver Forgetting God: Prosperity Leads To Forgetting God: Prosperity often Leads To Forgetting God: Resolve Against Forgetting God: The People of God Forgetting God: Trials should not Lead To Related Terms |
    |