Invited to Know God (Deuteronomy) - Memory as a means to know God (1-4)

One of the primary purposes of Scripture, A.J. Culp says, is “to produce a ‘world’ for the faithful to 'live in.'” Scripture is not simply a mine of information nor is it merely a thought for the day. Rather, it is the foundational story that one builds their life upon and imagines themselves in.

Chapters 1-4 of Deuteronomy are a deliberate travelogue that brings us to key events in Israels history from the Exodus until the present sermon. In particular it brings us to key moments of decision that demonstrate God’s character and also the character of Israel.

We remember in order to see ourselves in the story: Deuteronomy is our story too and finds its greatest fulfilment in Christ. In it we see God’s faithfulness to us and our welcome into God’s covenant people. We remember God’s New Covenant through the incarnation, death, and resurrection, of Jesus and our entrance into that covenant as we identify with Christ in baptism.  We see our failure to trust God’s faithfulness and love and yet we remember God’s continued faithfulness. Finally, we see How Christ bids us to come and die to our own selfish ways and to come and find life in him. To live with him now and someday in the land he has promised.