Holiday = root, "holy day" = Set apart to meditate on day / event / occasion
+ A day elevated above others for holy purposes
+ Over time = Meaning has degenerated = Downward trend of life
+ [1] Leisure time away from work, devoted to rest or pleasure = [2] A day on which work is suspended by law or custom = [3] To spend or take a vacation
+ For some, a holiday is not time to take off, but to work = My own experiences in past
The memorial day holiday is certainly a typical example of this
+ Originally called Decoration Day = Day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service
+ Born out of the experience of our own Civil War = Remember the dead = Decorate the graves = Heal the wounds
+ But most Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day
+ Forget about keeping it on May 30 ~ "Last Monday in May" = 3-day weekend to "holiday"
+ To serve the selfish pleasures and be paid for it = And for some to capitalize off of it
+ For some = "The unofficial start of Summer" = [Mild surprise July 4 or "Dec. 25" are still respected and have not yet been moved...]
And yet ~ ESP. w/a "holy-day" like MEMORIAL day = All of that flies in the face of what a "memorial" is
+ Essence = "Remembrance" = "Commemoration"
+ "A recognition of meritorious service" = Perhaps accompanied by some type of written statement = A monument = A marker = A statue or other structure
+ And certainly we can see this elevated, deeper, "holy-day" meaning in the first instance of the word in the Word of God
+ Exod. 3 = God appears to Moses in the burning bush = Sends him back to Israel to deliver His people = [9-12]
+ Includes the revelation of God’s personal name = [13-14] = And the introduction of the very first establishment of a memorial by the Lord in His Word = [15]
All the aspects of a true memorial = What it ought to be
+ The LORD God becomes the memorial = Psalms 102:12 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
+ His name stands in His place = A representation to call the memorial to mind = Micah 4:5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. = HOLINESS aspect
+ The enduring aspect of a memorial = Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
+ Lest there be any confusion over exactly what God had in mind = Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
But it is not the only memorial the Word of God records being established
+ And so on this Memorial Day eve let us consider the institution of some other memorials
+ And consider their implications for our lives
Exod. 12 = The Passover = [12-14]
+ God has not changed His mind about the "all the gods of Egypt" = Will you be judged?
+ And you still need to be under the blood to be safe today = Are you?
Exod. 16 = The Laying up of the manna = [32-33]
+ What a study we could do on this subject of the manna
+ However, for our purposes tonight = Let these thoughts suffice
+ God led His people out of Egypt and fed His people in the wilderness
+ He gave them the bread from Heaven = The bread of life
+ Are you feasting on the manna? = Being fed & filled?
+ But mindful of the "daily duty" nature of the manna?
+ EXCEPT for the Sabbath = (And of course today that would be the Lord’s Day...)?
Exod. 28 = The stones of the ephod = [9-12]
+ The names of the people of God = Engraved on a precious stone
+ Placed upon the shoulder = The place of strength for the bearing of burdens
+ Placed upon the shoulder of the High Priest = Ever before the Lord
+ Set in "ouches of gold" = Gold calling to mind...
+ The doctrines of grace = True converts = Tried faith = Saints after affliction
+ You are borne on the shoulders of the Great High Priest, Jesus Christ the Righteous
+ In Him your name = YOU = are ever before the Lord
+ Because of His grace = Because you are a true convert
+ So perhaps you are experiencing a trying of your faith?
+ Do you have any doubt what the outcome will be?
+ Do you have any doubt that you will stand as a Saint AFTER this affliction has passed? = 2 Cor. 4:12-18
Num. 15 = The fringes on the garments = [38-39]
+ To remember the Lord’s commandments "and do them; and that ye seek not..." = [40-41]
+ We all are given a new robe of righteousness in Christ
+ But I believe it’s God’s desire that we put the fringes on
+ Have you put your fringes on? = Do you call to mind God’s commands?
+ Are you obedient? = Are you striving to be obedient to be holy?
+ Or are you seeking after your own heart = Your own eyes?
+ Or have you gone a whoring after the lusts of your flesh?
Josh. 24 = Joshua’s stone of memorial = [15-24]
+ And here is a stone raised to serve as a memorial to this transaction
+ And so often during the sad history of God’s Chosen People it was a witness
+ But not "unto" them = AGAINST THEM = Denied their God
+ Notice please = Matt. 16:15-18 = What rock? = Peter’s testimony
+ That which we all must give = That which we all must have
+ Have you / ARE YOU = Serving other Gods?
+ Have you forsaken the Lord who has done so much for you in driving out the enemy?
+ Denied your God = Deed = Word = Thought?
CONCLUSION
+ Other memorials in Scripture = Stones of memorial from crossing Jordan
+ The woman with the ointment annointing Christ against the day of His death
+ The Lord’s Supper = The cross
+ But these which we have examined our challenging enough
+ Under the blood? = Still clinging to any of the "gods of Egypt?"
+ Feasting on the manna? = Fed & filled? = DAILY? = Or no...?
+ Trials of life causing you to forget where you ARE?’
+ The shoulders of our Great High Priest bearing you up perpetually before the Lord?
+ ANY doubts if / when / how you will eventually triumph?
+ Fringes on your garments?
+ Knowing and DOING God’s commands?
+ Striving to be yielded to holiness?
+ Or seeking after your own heart & eyes & lusts?
+ Mindful of the rock of your testimony?
+ Or have you some how denied your God = Deed / Word / Thought?
PRAYER & INVITATION
