Stewardship of Reflection and Remembrance

                                  

           "Do this in remembrance of me" is written on the communion table of the 1st Presbyterian Church in Eufaula, Alabama. It is at eye level so if one becomes a bit distracted during the service (or sermon), it is there to see and to read; a perfect  height for a seated view.

          I came across my great-grandfather's Bible. He was a Presbyterian minister. His KJV was tattered with sliver thin pages falling out. On the blank pages at the back of his beloved Bible were a written recording of verses by theme. I suppose either they were favorites or were useful to him but these were close at hand. One recorded reference was from Joshua. 

             The Book of Joshua is a story of putting God first.  After exodus and wandering, the people of Israel crossed Jordan into the promised land but the land was not free. They had to fight the surrounding Kings to win their promised land.  The first battle was a decisive loss to Ai. In crisis, Joshua fell to the ground before the Ark of the Covenant. Here he heard God speak of the one man who broke the laws of the community and of Israel. When this man and his family were stoned and killed, the people could go forward and did defeat the surrounding Kings, conquered land, and settled the promised land. 

          The story of Joshua and the defeat of the many Kings is a listing of the defeated Kings and land given to the tribes and half-tribes of Israel. It is also a story of the mistake of one man and Israel's stoning and expulsion of him, his family, and his possessions following the ancient rule of community. The mistake of one was the sin of the community so the community had to be cleansed. The story is in two parts; one of mistake and expulsion and the other of following the laws and winning the promised lands.

           Israel won by keeping the ancient laws of the community and remembering to do so. Joshua reminded the tribes of their mistake so to not repeat it. Maintaining the laws, writing them in stone, and retelling the story seemed to keep the people of Israel from defeat and led them to rest, peace, and land. 

          It was not easy to remember to turn to God and to follow His laws. Joshua spent much time telling, retelling, and reminding Israel to keep God's laws. Keeping the laws meant the community could survive and prosper. Keeping the laws meant remembering to do so. Writing down God's laws in stone was for all to witness and to remember, creates a unity of the people and the law and a remembrance of the covenant between the people and God.