“You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
— Deuteronomy 6:8–9
A Call to Remember
Celebration is an intrinsic part of every culture and religion.
We set up days and weeks to celebrate important moments, religious observances, and historical victories.
These moments of remembrance define our lives and seasons.
This is according to God’s design. God desires for us to be people of remembrance. What He desires for us to remember is Himself.
God’s Rhythm of Remembrance
The first rhythm of remembrance God set up for Israel was observing Passover (Ex. 13:9–16). This celebration was declared by Moses’ mouth, written in a scroll, and cemented in tradition.
Remembering is both a call to action and a pause. It is sitting with the Word God has given you and allowing that Word to propel you forward.
Tangible Reminders
After Israel exited Egypt, God commanded them to make remembering His commands the forefront of their minds. He went as far as to tell them to set tangible reminders—placing tassels with blue cords on their garments.
These were to help the people remember God’s commands, obey them, and be holy to God (Num. 15:37–41). Israel was to be as familiar with the commands and works of God as they were with their own hands or heads.
When we don’t proactively remember God and His goodness, we become discontent, complain, and disobey. We “prostitute ourselves by following our own heart and flesh.”
Setting Up Stones of Remembrance
Israel would continue to set up stones of remembrance throughout their history. These came in the form of literal stones, celebrations, and words.
The prophet Samuel raised up a literal stone of remembrance in 1 Samuel 7:12.
He called this stone an Ebenezer, which means “stone of help.”
This stone was set to remind the people that their enemy surrounded them and they could not defeat the enemy on their own. But God delivered them from their enemy. With God’s help they received victory and their lives were preserved.
Our Everlasting Ebenezer
We no longer set up stone Ebenezers like Samuel, nor do we hang tassels on our robes.
God has replaced these with an engraving that cannot be made by man.
An Old Testament Ebenezer could be torn down, and cords could be turned into idols (Matt. 23:1–6).
But God promised to engrave remembrance of Himself and His commands on our hearts. He gave the Spirit to every believer so that we can follow God’s statutes and observe His ordinances (Ez. 36:26–27).
The Spirit bears witness of the Father’s holiness and goodness.
The Spirit cannot be torn down nor corrupted.
He is our everlasting Ebenezer.
A Hymn of Help
The lyrics to my favorite hymn, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, reflect this truth:
“Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood.”
Rhythms That Remind
We may not set up physical stones today, but it is still important to establish rhythms of remembrance.
Christ instituted two sacred remembrances for the church: baptism and communion.
These set the tone that rhythms of remembrance are to remind us of who we are and where we come from.
All believers once walked in darkness, slaves to sin, but God extended His grace to us and rescued us out of darkness and into His marvelous light (Eph. 2:1–10).
Stones of remembrance serve the same purpose today as they did in the days of antiquity.
We remember the Word of the Lord and our call to holiness so that we do not follow our own hearts and eyes.
Our Modern Stones of Remembrance
Today, stones of remembrance may look like seasonal celebrations such as Advent or Lent.
It may look like journaling, scrapbooking, or table fellowship.
Whatever form it takes, the purpose remains the same:
remember God’s faithfulness, anchor our hearts in His truth, and keep our lives centered on His enduring goodness.
Reflect on your own experiences of God’s faithfulness. We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below and connect with others on this journey of understanding His enduring goodness. Your insight can inspire and uplift our community!
