Remember and rejoice

If you’ve been paying attention, the theme of “rejoice” has been popping up a lot in these blogs lately.

I’ve never thought of Deuteronomy being a book that teaches “rejoicing,” but not only does it teach about rejoicing, it commands it.

Again and again, you see God saying not, “It might be a good thing to rejoice” or “Try to remember to rejoice once a while,” but “You shall rejoice.” (Deuteronomy 12:7, 8, 18, 14:26, 16:11, 16:14, 26:11, 27:7).

And rejoicing is almost always linked to remembering.

We remember his daily blessings. (Deuteronomy 15:14)

More importantly, we remember how we have been redeemed from slavery to Satan’s kingdom. (Deuteronomy 15:15, 16:3, 16:12)

That remembering and rejoicing should shape our lives.

It should make us be generous to those around us (Deuteronomy 15:7-15).

It should cause us to trust God and obey him (Deuteronomy 16:11-12).

It should cause us to desire to worship, not just at home, but with God’s people.

In those days, it was at the tabernacle. In our days, it is at church. (Deuteronomy 16:2, 5, 11, 15, 16).

It should cause us to want to give what we have to God, because we remember it all came from God in the first place. (Deuteronomy 16:16-17)

How often do you remember and rejoice?

How does it shape your life?