Institutional/Congregational/Familial Memory

“Moses and Aaron were among His priests,

And Samuel was among those who called upon His name;

They called upon the LORD, and He answered them.

He spoke to them in the cloudy pillar;

They kept His testimonies and the ordinance He gave them.

You answered them, O LORD our God;

You were to them God-Who-Forgives,

Though You took vengeance on their deeds.” (Psalms 99:6-8 NKJV)

What came to mind reading this scripture is the concept spoken of in business, church and educational circles – institutional memory. Similarly, one of the most important thing in family life is familial memory.

Remembering our past is an important key to not repeating the mistakes our forebears made. Tales of our ancestors and parents’ successes and failures help us avoid pitfalls and aids in mapping paths for success. The same principle applies in businesses, churches and schools.

Moses, Aaron and Samuel were and are revered figures in Jewish history, faithful servants to whom God paid heed. The psalmist points out that though God answered their prayers, He also punished their misdeeds. Scriptural narrative puts both good and bad out there for all to see. Most important is this line; “You were to them God-Who-Forgives.”

What a wonderful reminder! He hears His children’s prayers; He chastens their transgressions; and most importantly, He was to them and is to us the God who forgives!

Related Scriptures

“And Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, ‘All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient.’ And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words. . . . Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.’” (Exodus 24:6-8, 12 NKJV)

“So Moses raised up the tabernacle, fastened its sockets, set up its boards, put in its bars, and raised up its pillars.” (Exodus 40:18 NKJV)

“So Aaron and his sons did all the things that the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses.” (Leviticus 8:36 NKJV)

“And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.” (I Samuel 7:9 NKJV)

“So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.” (I Samuel 12:18 NKJV)

“Then the LORD said to me, ‘Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favorable toward this people. Cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth.’” (Jeremiah 15:1 NKJV)