Memorial Day

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

Traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are ignored and neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country. While it is proper and fitting to “pay our respects” for any who have died, I simply am pointing out that the holiday was originally intended for those who died in service to our country.

I want to address how and why observance of memorials diminishes, and specifically, how it relates to the changes that have occurred in its observance.  If one did not know the history behind the establishment of the holiday, one would never know but what the present observance was how it had always been. There were many memorials established in the Bible and as we study the changes that occurred with them, we can see how and why the same thing has occurred in regard to Memorial Day.

As we begin, let it be noted that the idea of a ‘memorial’ is to remember something outstanding about a person or persons or event(s) that had a significant effect in society, whether locally, regionally, or globally. The particular activities associated with each memorial observance are such as would relate to what that person(s) or event(s) were noted for. In other words, the activities ought to be such as would keep the memory alive, but also be accurate to that person or event. When the cause for which any memorial observance becomes obscured or lost, then changes take place which may be based upon inaccurate information. We see such has happened with respect to Memorial Day in that it is thought by many today to be a day whereby we honor all the deceased.

As we turn to the scriptures we see that some memorials were only for certain people, while others were for all humanity.

Memorials in the Old Testament  

The “Passover” – it was not established for all nations, but for the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob. It was in remembrance of their freedom from bondage in Egypt.

We read in Ex. 12:14, “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.” Then in verse 17, “And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever.” Still later, in verse 24, “You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever.”

Let us note some particulars of this memorial. This was to be observed by those who had been in slavery in Egypt and for their descendants. This had no significance or meaning to the Philistines or the Canaanites! They had no reason to ‘remember’ this event. We find further in Ex. 13:3-10, “Then Moses said to the people, "Remember this day in which YOU came out from Egypt..the LORD brought you out from this place.  Today...you are going out. And when the LORD brings you into the land…which he swore to your fathers to give you...you shall keep this service in this month.  You shall tell your son on that day, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' And it shall be to you...a memorial.  You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.”

We note also, that the manner of observance was significant! They could not do just anything! The importance of observing this memorial correctly is seen in the condemnation that was pronounced upon them for failure in this area. Did it matter how and when they observed the Passover? Did it matter that they remembered to keep it at all? Could they substitute any particulars? Sadly, we find that several centuries later, they had been unfaithful in remembering their past bondage. In 2 Kings 23, we read of a series of interesting events in this nation. At this time they were ruled by a king, named Josiah. He gave this commandment to the nation, “…Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant. For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah.”

How did Josiah know of the Passover? Its observance had not been ‘remembered’ for several hundred years. Why not? The answer lies in their failure in another area. The failure to pass the story accurately from one generation to another! This nation was given laws, statutes, and ordinances from Mt. Sinai thru Moses (Ex. 20-40). They were given explicit instructions to adhere strictly to those laws (Deut. 4:1-10),

Please take note of the following exhortations and warnings given by Moses to this nation, which they FAILED TO HEED!  

[read: Deut. 6:6-7, 12-15; 7:1-11 ; 8:2-6, 11-17; 9:4-6; 10:12-13; 12:2-5, 8; 12:29-32]

From these passages we have a detailed explanation of how the Passover memorial was perverted and then abandoned.

Many years later, we find that even the copy of the Law, given to Moses had been lost! Then in 2 Kings 22:1-20, when the Law was discovered (AND READ FROM), then the truth about the observance of the Passover was learned and immediate changes were ordered so as to do as God had commanded of this nation. The punishment for disobedience was also discovered in the reading of the Law of Moses. Josiah knew what needed to be done to avoid further wrath from God; and he knew the importance of abandoning present practice! Their worship was corrupted, for they had incorporated the idolatrous practices of the heathen nations into their worship. Josiah restored true worship in accordance with the Book of the Law and he demanded a re-commitment to the keeping of that Law. In 2 Kings 23:25, his efforts were so pleasing to God that it is recorded of Josiah, “And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.”

Failure to teach the will of God accurately is the ultimate cause of any departure. This happened repeatedly to this nation. After Moses died, Joshua led them into the land of promise, Canaan, and following Joshua’s death, we read in Judges 2:7, 10, “And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel..and also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.”

This is what happened in regard to the Passover memorial. It is the same pattern of failure in any departure.

Another memorial for this nation was when they reached this Promised Land. At the entrance into the Promised Land memorial stones were to be set up for a remembering. The story was to be passed down from generation to generation of the significance of those stones. We read of this memorial in Joshua 4:1-7.  Again, in this area, there was a failure to teach the children, and the result was forgetfulness!
  

Memorials in the New Testament 

There are memorials in the New Testament. It is interesting, for a perversion of this memorial has resulted in idolatrous worship before God. In Acts 10:1-4, we find “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” In Acts 10:31 it is further said, “Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.”
What ‘memorial’ did God remember from the prayers of Cornelius? In Acts 10:35 we read: “In every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”

God remembered a promise He had made prior to the Creation…the promise of eternal life –

Titus 1:2 – “In hope of eternal life, which God…promised before the world began…”
This was purposed in Christ – Eph. 3:11: “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus.” (cf. Eph. 1:4-5, 7)

In connection w/this redemption, Christians have a memorial to observe. It is the observance of the death of Jesus in which our forgiveness was purchased.  “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?” – 1 Cor. 10:16.

Jesus gave instructions to Paul concerning this memorial in 1 Cor. 11:23-30.  It is to be observed EVERY first day of the week, hence the purpose for our assembling (Heb. 10:25).

Has the death of the Son of God lost significance with you?

• look at your assembling habits
• look at your preparation for partaking
• look at your manner of partaking; do you examine yourself or others?

These are just a few reminders in hope that we might be prepared for the return of Christ in judgment (Rom. 14:12-13).  Let us resolve to be as Josiah upon learning the truth on any subject in God’s word and restore our religion to “pure and undefiled religion” (James 1:27).

rdb