Deuteronomy 31:12-13 "Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: (13) And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it."
When Moses ended his reading of the law, he delivered it unto the priests which
bare (carried) the ark of the covenant. He told them to bring it out and
read it to all the people every seven years when they gathered together to
observe the feast of the tabernacles. In our text this morning, he told them to
gather everyone - men, women, and children. Gather the stranger that is within
the gatest and read the law to them. He gives us the reason for doing
this. First, to keep the law fresh in their hearts and minds. But in verse 13,
he tells us, "that their children, which have not known anything, may hear,
and learn to fear the LORD your God." It was very important that the
parents teach the law to their children, but also that they hear it being read
and taught by the priests (those appointed by God). There would be children
born during those seven years that had not heard the law read by the priests.
This would insure everyone to be able to hear the law.
As a pastor, there are times when the Lord places a text on my heart that I
have already preached at some point in the past. First, the Word of God never
gets old and no matter how many times I have read a passage, there are new
things and old things that come from that Word. There are little ones in
the congregation who have not heard that Word spoken. It is important that if
it seems new to someone that as they look around, they can see folks who have
heard it before to be in agreement. The parents and grandparents were present
when those new children of Israel heard the law being read for the first time.
It is important to pass down the truth of God's Word from generation to
generation. As the children woud listen and observe their parents, they
could know this was not something new. They would be taught at home and also
taught in public assembly of worship.
My thought for today is this: It is so very important to come together in
worship and praise. It is important for our own well-being. It is
important for our family's well-being. It is important for the well-being of
others who come together. We have the ability to worship the Lord God Almighty
in a manner as He has prescribed and we have the opportunity to encourage
others with our presence. The good thing for us is that we do not have to
wait seven years to hear the Word of God. Let us be diligent in our
attendance and our worship of the Lord.