Deuteronomy is a book of remembrance. Through it, Moses (under the guidance of the Lord) rehearses and reviews the commandments of the law, the times and procedures of the various feasts, types of worship that were and weren’t acceptable, and everything else the children of Israel had been taught thus far. As the old saying goes, repetition aids learning, and the truth of that was magnified in that many from this generation had been very young or not even born yet when the original instructions had been laid out. They needed to hear these things so they couldn’t come back later and say, “Well, we didn’t know. No one ever told us.”

Not only was it necessary for them to hear what the Lord had to say, but it was also essential they remembered. They needed to remember where they had come from and how the Lord had delivered them. They needed to remember how He had led them and provided for them. They needed to remember there were consequences for sin and rewards for those who walked uprightly. They needed to remember they couldn’t do anything on their own; they needed God. So, throughout the book of Deuteronomy, Moses urges them to remember.

Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; - Deuteronomy 4:9

Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee. - Deuteronomy 4:23

And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day. - Deuteronomy 5:15

Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. - Deuteronomy 6:12

Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt; - Deuteronomy 7:18

And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. - Deuteronomy 8:2

Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: - Deuteronomy 8:11

Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; - Deuteronomy 8:14

But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. - Deuteronomy 8:18-19

Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the Lord thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the Lord. - Deuteronomy 9:7

Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin: - Deuteronomy 9:27

And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day. - Deuteronomy 15:15

Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life. - Deuteronomy 16:3

And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes. - Deuteronomy 16:12

Remember what the Lord thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt. - Deuteronomy 24:9

But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing. - Deuteronomy 24:18

And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing. - Deuteronomy 24:22

Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt; - Deuteronomy 25:17

Therefore it shall be, when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it. - Deuteronomy 25:19

Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee. - Deuteronomy 32:7

See what I mean? Over and over, Moses pleads with the people to remember everything they had been through up to this point. The victories. The defeats. The good days and the bad. But above all, the mercy, grace, and faithfulness of God. Not only would this remembrance keep the Israelites on the right track, but it would also keep them in the right frame of mind. After all, it’s difficult to feel discouraged or hopeless while rehearsing God’s goodness. 

We would do well to heed Moses’ urging. We need to remember all God has done in our lives and the lives of those around us. We need to focus on His faithfulness to all generations. The more we do, the better our state of mind and heart will be.

Are you feeling down today? Maybe it’s time to refresh your memory!