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
