Memorial Day

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

Traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years. Many have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are ignored and neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country. While it is proper and fitting to “pay our respects” for any who have died, I simply am pointing out that the holiday was originally intended for those who died in service to our country.

I want to address how and why observance of memorials diminishes, and specifically, how it relates to the changes that have occurred in their observance. If one did not know the history behind the establishment of the holiday, one would never know but what the present observance was how it had always been. There were many memorials established in the Bible and as we study the changes that occurred with them, we can see how and why the same thing has occurred in regard to Memorial Day.

The purpose of a ‘memorial’ is to remember something outstanding about a person/event that had a significant effect upon society, whether locally, regionally, or globally. The particular activities associated with each memorial observance are such as would relate to what that person(s) or event(s) were noted for. In other words, the activities ought to be such as would keep the memory alive, but also be accurate to that person or event. When the cause for which any memorial observance becomes obscured or lost, then changes take place that are based upon inaccurate information. This has happened with respect to Memorial Day.

As we turn to the scriptures we see that some memorials were only for certain people, while others were for all humanity.

The “Passover” – it was not established for all nations, but for the physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob. It was in remembrance of their freedom from bondage in Egypt.

We read in Ex. 12:14, “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.” Then in verse 17, “And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever.” Still later, in verse 24, “You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever.”

Let us note some particulars of this memorial. This was to be observed by those who had been in slavery in Egypt and for their descendants. This had no significance or meaning to the Philistines or the Canaanites! They had no reason to ‘remember’ this event. We see this from Exodus 13:3-10.

Equally important was HOW this Memorial was observed! They could not do just anything! The importance of observing this memorial correctly is seen in the condemnation that was pronounced upon them for failure in this area. Did it matter how and when they observed the Passover? Did it matter that they remembered to keep it at all? Could they substitute any particulars? Sadly, we find that several centuries later, they had been unfaithful in this matter.

In 2 Kings 23:22, we find, “For no such Passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah.”

Its observance had not been ‘remembered’ for several hundred years. Why not? The answer lies in their failure to pass the story accurately from one generation to another! Please take note of the following exhortations and warnings given by Moses to this nation, which they FAILED TO HEED! We have in these passages, detailed explanation of how the Passover memorial was perverted and then abandoned:

[Deut. 6:6-7, 12-15; 7:1-11 ; 8:2-6, 11-17; 9:4-6; 10:12-13; 12:2-5, 8; 12:29-32]

Even the copy of the Law, given to Moses had been lost! In 2 Kings 22:1-20, when the Law of Moses was discovered AND READ FROM, then the truth about the observance of the Passover was learned and immediate changes were ordered so as to do as God had commanded of this nation. The punishment for disobedience was also discovered in the reading of the Law of Moses. Josiah knew what needed to be done to avoid further wrath from God; and he knew the importance of abandoning present practice! Their worship was corrupted, for they had incorporated the idolatrous practices of the heathen nations into their worship. Josiah restored true worship per the Book of the Law and he demanded a re-commitment to the keeping of that Law.

Failure to teach the will of God accurately is the ultimate cause of any departure. This happened repeatedly to this nation. After Moses died, Joshua led them into the land of promise, Canaan, and following Joshua’s death, we read in Judges 2:7, 10, “And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel..and also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.” This is what happened in regard to the Passover memorial. It is the same pattern of failure in any departure.

There are memorials in the New Testament. In Acts 10:4 and 10:31, a Gentile, Cornelius was told, “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.” What ‘memorial’ did God remember from the prayers of Cornelius? The answer is in Acts 10:35 “In every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” This was in accordance with God’s eternal purpose: see Eph. 1:4-5, 7; 3:11; and Titus 1:2.

In connection with their redemption, Christians have a memorial to observe. It is the memorial of Jesus’ death. Jesus gave these instructions to Paul: 1 Cor. 11:23-26: “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.”

Jesus commanded that His death be REMEMBERED! It is to be done EACH first day of the week, hence the purpose for assembling (Heb. 10:25). This memorial observance has also become obscured thru a failure to teach the Bible accurately. The result is that worship has turned into idolatry. Many churches do NOT observe this memorial at all in their worship. Others fail to observe it correctly as was done with the Passover in the O. T.

Resolve to be as Josiah upon learning the truth on any subject in God’s word and restore your religion to “pure and undefiled religion” (James 1:27).

Roger Bruner