Lest we forget the Lord

Yesterday was ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day when we remember all those who served for Australia in armed conflicts. In particular, we remember those who died in defending our nation and our allies. Theirs was a costly sacrifice of courage and devotion for our freedom.

ANZAC Day is probably the most religious public celebration in Australia today. They sang the hymns “Abide with me” and the Recessional. And said, “We will remember them. Lest we forget”.

The Recessional is a poem by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) that is often recited at ANZAC Day services. It issued a warning against pride in British military might, cautioning that a nation’s success could quickly vanish if that nation forgot God.

It’s verses end with
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

It was about not forgetting to remember God, but on ANZAC Day it was adapted to not forgetting to remember the sacrifice made by our soldiers in war.

Kipling based the phrase “lest we forget” on biblical passages from where Moses implores Israel to remember God and His laws. The book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ farewell address to the Israelites before they entered the promised land (Canaan).

He told them, “Be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them” (Dt. 4:9NIV). They were to remember (and not forget) the covenants and commands given to them at Mount Sinai.

Moses also said, “be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” and “Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws and His decrees” (Dt. 6:12; 8:11). After they were flourishing in their new land, they were to remember (and not forget) the Lord who rescued them from slavery and told them how to live.

ANZAC Day is an occasion to remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for our freedom. Soldiers died for their nation, whereas Jesus died for humanity. The heart of the good news about Jesus Christ is the ultimate sacrifice: He died for us as a ransom payment for sin (Mk. 10:45). And it was not for His friends alone, but even for those who were far from Him.

Paul commanded Timothy, “remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead” (2 Tim. 2:8). We need to remember what Jesus Christ did and that He is alive, interceding, and returning.

On the night He was betrayed, Jesus told His disciples to remember Him by eating bread and drinking from the cup. He knew how easily we forget. We build memorials because stones don’t forget, even when people do.

Prayer

Father God, in our busy lives we need to remember (and not forget) what you have done for us. Like each ANZAC Day we remember the sacrifices of our soldiers, today we remember the supreme sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour.

We thank you for His sacrificial death that enabled our sin to be forgiven and us to be reconciled with God. And we thank you for His resurrection back to life which was a great victory over death, sin and Satan. Lest we forget. Amen.

Appendix: The recessional

God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far-flung battle-line,
Beneath whose awful Hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies;
The Captains and the Kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

Far-called, our navies melt away;
On dune and headland sinks the fire:
Lo, all our pomp of yesterday
Is one with Nineveh and Tyre!
Judge of the Nations, spare us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

If, drunk with sight of power, we loose
Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe,
Such boastings as the Gentiles use,
Or lesser breeds without the Law—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

For heathen heart that puts her trust
In reeking tube and iron shard,
All valiant dust that builds on dust,
And guarding, calls not Thee to guard,
For frantic boast and foolish word—
Thy mercy on Thy People, Lord!

Acknowledgement

This article is based on one from The Daily Declaration.

Also see: Lest we forget