Memorial Day
I do not come from a “military family,” other than an uncle from each side that served briefly. I have not experienced directly the sacrifice that we remember today. I understand the sacrifice and the ramifications. This is the difference between empathy and sympathy. Empathy is “I feel your pain.” Sympathy is “I understand your pain.” Many times we either confuse or conflate these terms. While I do not have an individual that I will remember today, I will honor others on this Memorial Day.
Joshua called the twelve men whom he had selected from the people of Israel—a man from each tribe. Joshua said to them, “Go to the middle of the Jordan in front of the Ark of the Lord your God. There each man is to lift up one stone on his shoulder. The number will correspond to the number of the tribes descended from the sons of Israel, so that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in the future, ‘What do these stones mean for you?’ Then you shall respond to them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. When the ark passed through the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones will serve as a permanent memorial for the people of Israel.”
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%204&version=EHV>
There are dozens of instances of memorials in the Old Testament: some good, some not so good. We were created to remember. The Psalmist says, “I am overcome by my emotions whenever I remember these things…” (Psalm 42:4 ESV) Our remembering is a reflection of God remembering. God remembered Noah, the rainbow is a memorial that reminds God of His covenant. (Genesis 9) God remembered Abraham. God remembered Rachel. God remembered Israel in Egypt. When God remembers, He acts. Again in a Psalm (115):The Lord remembers us. He will bless. When we remember, we act.
Memorial Day grew form the tradition of Decoration Day. The act of decorating the graves of those who died in defense of their country; we remember, we act. Remember today.
Steve Skiver
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations will bow down before you.
For the kingdom belongs to the Lord,
and he rules over the nations.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2022%3A26%2D28&version=EHV>