zakar

So I go to my first day of hebrew class (warning- this is not a 'look at me I'm awesome, I know more about the bible than you cos I studied Hebrew story') and I'm so ready. I love languages for so many reasons...I'm not sure why.

And I will never forget what I learnt that day.

The first verb I was ever taught in Hebrew....?

to be, to have, to love, to forgive, to sacrifice, to pray, to give, to unblemish a lamb, to resurrect, to sanctificy, to transfigure, to save, to tithe...???

no

it was none of those...

the first verb i learnt...

was

remember.

I still remember how, with the little experience of other languages I had, this puzzled me.

Remember??

As the year(s) went on though it has began to make a little more sense.

That God always wants (commands, desires?) us to remember

Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. deut 5:15

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years. deut 8:2

Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. deut 15:15

Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste—so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt. deut 16:3

Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and follow carefully these decrees. deut 16:12

Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this. deut 24:18

Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? matt 16:9

Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? mark 8:18


Because what happens when I stop remembering?

I forget!

I forget about my uberblessed life
I forget about others
I forget that the world doesn't revolve around me
I forget that other people are more important
I forget about forgiveness
I forget about grace
I forget about peace
I forget about slowtoangerness
I forget about Love

and I think that's part of why remembering seems to be reasonably important to God

because as I continue to learn the art of remembering

life gains a little more perspective

and life is usually more beautiful with a little more perspective

remember