Honoring Legacy: The Significance of God's Memorial Name

It was the second one this week, and we knew before we sat down in the pews that two more were already scheduled. This deployment was excruciatingly brutal. For most of my friends, their spouses had headed into danger about three months previously. My husband was in the unit that left a month early to receive the equipment and push the Big Red One into Iraq. Regardless of our spouses’ unit, we all attended every memorial service.

Memorializing a service member is a solemn process, filled with a range of emotions, including pride, sorrow, fear, relief, and regret, among others. We were proud of our soldiers, yet we mourned for the dead. We lived in fear of the next knock on the door. Relief flooded in every time the knock wasn’t on our door, but regret flowed in because another family lost a loved one. The Army told us they are going on “a one-year deployment,” which did not include all the days when they traveled to the theatre or the journey back home.

But Yahweh met us in our emotions.

⁵  the Lord, the God of hosts,

the Lord is his memorial name:

⁶  “So you, by the help of your God, return,

hold fast to love and justice,

and wait continually for your God.”

Hosea 12:5-6

We spent our time waiting for our soldier with Yahweh. He called us to remember God's memorial name, Yahweh, the self-sufficient One. Nothing created, nor destroys Him. He is eternal, never changing. Hosea reminded us to cling to God for help.

God's memorial name supported us.

We needed to support each other. I didn’t have a big southern-style porch, so we gathered in front of my house around a rickety table and called it “Veranda Time.” Every day, the kids could play in a safe environment with others who were experiencing the same stressors. Many evenings, we shared meals and helped the kids with their homework. We held on to the love of God and love for each other. Any time I needed help, one of my neighbors would walk my kids to school or take care of my youngest.

No matter how old our kids were, we all waited with God. As we waited on words from our soldiers, we prayed and clung to Yahweh’s promises. The memorial name of the Lord reminded us that our soldiers were not alone. He was with them as He was with us.

As we look at Hosea 12:

·        We should seek help from God during difficult times. He is ready to strengthen, encourage, and help us.

·        We are to return to Him. He wants us to turn from our sins and follow Him.

·        Hold fast to love and justice are our goals. The world is full of hate and injustice, while Christians are to show love, mercy, and justice.

·        Wait continually for our God. His time is not our time. The military can change deployments without any preparations. We are to wait on God and His perfect timing for our desires.

To help cope with our struggles, we can do some things to help ourselves and others.

1.    Spend time in prayer. Start your day with prayer. Continue praying as you go through your day.

2.    Dig into God’s Word. Slowly work through a book of the Bible. I recommend starting with Luke, then going into Acts to get a picture of Jesus’ life.

3.    Meet up with other believers. If you can’t connect in person, call or write to them. Share what you are learning.

As we remember the memorial name of God, Yahweh, we need to share about Him and His love. “I am who I am,” met Moses in the burning bush; He does not change. He is omnipotent, eternal, omniscient, loving, and merciful.

How can you learn more about God? What are you studying? Leave me a comment.