Gather At Mizpah_ A Call To Reflection

1. (slide 3) God Commands His People to Remember & Reflect

As we approach the end of the year—2025—as other times at the end of a year we are often filled with mixed emotions. At times we are grateful for the victories and joys we’ve experienced and want to always remember them, other times we have regrets, hurts and would want to forget or leave them all behind in 2025 never to be seen again. . The Bible encourages reflection. (slide ) In Lamentations 3:40 it says “ Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. “ . We are to examine our ways and test them so we may return to the Lord. This process is similar to taking inventory—a careful assessment of where we stand spiritually, emotionally, financially, family, work/purpose, Health/Rest, Church/community, Emotionally and in our relationship with God. Like some of you I have been fortunate over this 2025 Christmas season to have had some of my family visiting with us and in our gathering we have had times of remembering and reflection.

Just as businesses evaluate their accounts and stock at the year-end to determine profit or loss, so to we as Christians are encouraged in scripture to evaluate our work and walk. Have we used the treasures God has given us wisely? Have we spent our time wisely? Are we fulfilling the mission God has given to us? Brethren one of the greatest spiritual disciplines is remembering.

(slide) Deuteronomy 8:2 “And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness…” God tells Israel to review the journey, not just celebrate the destination. Its easy to celebrate when we reach but we must review the journey.

(slide) Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only take heed to thyself… lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen.” Forgetting God’s works leads to spiritual decline.

(slide) Psalm 90:12 so teach us to number our days so we may get a heart of wisdom . Taking stock produces wisdom not regret.

(slide) Psalm 103:2 - Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” (Click) “What we fail to reflect on, we are destined to repeat—or to forget.”

We live in a fast-moving world—always rushing forward—but God often calls His people to pause, look back, and reflect. Reflection is not nostalgia; you know that sentimental longing or affection for a period in the past no its not that, it is spiritual clarity. And God calls us to it.

When Israel was on the verge of new seasons, God repeatedly told them: “Remember what I did for you. Remember where you came from” Not only scripture but secular teaching says the same thing: the American philosopher and educational reformer John Dewey created the widely acclaimed phrase: (slide) "We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience."

Today let us reflect—on our lives and what has this year revealed about us? Lamentation 3:40 says “Let us search and examine our ways, and return to the Lord.”

On each occasion Before Israel moved forward, they stopped and reflected. And so today Before we cross into a new year, we must take stock. Its Stocktaking time . Brethen note

• Reflection is not regret; Reflection is spiritual honesty

• God often pauses us so He can realign us

Point to reinforce: You don’t close a year well by rushing past it.

2. (slide) MIZPAH BEFORE EBENEZER

In our key scripture today we note that Israel gathered at Mizpah before the victory. - Reflection preceded deliverance. Mizpah was a place of repentance, prayer, and covenant renewal. The name Mizpah is connected with several sites mentioned in the Bible and comes from the root meaning “to watch or watchtower” . In the Bible, Mizpah (watchtower) primarily represents a place of covenant, divine oversight, and remembrance.

The name Mizpah was first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 31:45–49. The place was located in a mountainous region east of the Jordan River. Jacob had fled from his scheming father-in-law, Laban, and was heading back to his father’s homeland (Genesis 31:3, 21). Jacob and his family had traveled for days finally, Laban caught up with them. Jacob had left secretly, taking Laban’s daughters and grandchildren without saying goodbye. Jacob did not know that his wife Rachel had stolen her father’s household gods. When they met up Laban confronted Jacob about it and it almost came to blows. However the men after talks and reflection on the past they arrived at an agreement. They heaped up a pile of rocks to mark the place where they made the covenant with each other . That place got its famous name Mizpah when Laban was about to leave he said to Jacob, “This heap is a witness between you and me today. . . . May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other” (Genesis 31:48–49). The Jews kept the name Mizpah (“Watchtower”) . So Mizpah was a reflection and reconciliation, clearing up the hurts of the past, identifying them forgiveness and commitment for the future. (Slide) Before we move into the new year we need to have a Mizpah .