Repetition tends to bug me. Having to repeat myself, especially more than twice, can often test my patience because it makes me feel like I’m unworthy of being heard. Songs with choruses that repeat too much for my liking I will skip or change the station. Listening to someone who speaks repetitively will often lose my interest.
Recently, though, I realized that I was looking forward to repeating the end of summer, start of fall clean up around the yard and house that we do each year. As I stood outside one morning thanking the Lord for the cooler weather and coming change of season, it was softly impressed upon me, “You know, there’s a big difference between repetition and redundancy.”
Immediately I realized there was a God lesson in the works.
Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com, defines repeat as, to say or state again; to make, do, or perform again; to express or present (oneself) again in the same words, terms, or form.
Repetition is defined as the act or an instance of repeating or being repeated.
Redundant is, exceeding what is necessary or normal; profuse, lavish.
And redundancy is the quality or state of being redundant, an act or instance of needless repetition.
Through a Google® search of repetition v. redundancy, I found this tidbit: “There are many types of useful repetition. Redundancy, on the other hand, cannot be a good thing. Redundancy happens when the repetition of a word or idea does not add anything to the previous usage; it just restates what has already been said, takes up space, and gets in the way without adding meaning.”
As I sat contemplating my research, the Spirit stressed to me, “I’ve been on repeat for you.”
Well … that blew my mind and convicted me at the same time because without God’s eternal patience and constant reminders, I’d still be lost and wandering, taking up space in redundancy.
Just think about times when the Lord had to repeat Himself to the Israelites. In the Old Testament, He states, “I am the LORD” 161 times https://www.thekingsbible.com. How could they forget the Lord after what they had seen, especially as the Lord unleashed plagues on the Egyptians and then guided them out of captivity with a pillar of fire (Gen. 13ff). Through the Exodus, the screams of the Egyptian soldiers as the Red Sea closed in around them would have been haunting.
And yet the generation that wandered through the desert for forty years didn’t make it into the promised land.
“For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those
who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for
forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell
in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not
enter his rest, but those who were disobedient? So we see that
they were unable to enter because of unbelief.”
Hebrews 3:16-19 – ESV
How does it happen that we forget and have to be reminded about the Lord and His ways? How does unbelief set in?
In my own experience, during my teen years, I was browbeat with the name “Jesus Christ.” Jesus’ name was only spoken in negative connotations, yet my dad and stepmom regularly attended church. It made it very confusing for me to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Much later in life, as I was led to study the Bible for myself, I was initially struck by a few verses:
“Only take heed, and guard your life diligently, lest you forget
the things that your eyes have seen and lest they depart
from your [mind and] heart all the days of your life. Teach them
to your children and your children’s children –”
Deuteronomy 4:9-10 – AMP
“And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there
arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD
or the work that he had done for Israel.”
Joshua 2:10
Thankfully, my Lord and Savior stepped in where my parents failed. “For my father and mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in.” (Psalm 27:10 – ESV.)
In our Christian lives there is a whole lot we do on repeat, or that we should do repetitively. Prayer and communication with our Lord and Savior being number one. We “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – ESV.)
We pray regularly for the needs of our family members, friends, and loved ones. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16 – ESV.)
God’s Word is read daily. “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” (Psalm 119:97 – ESV.)
We attend church regularly. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25.)
There is much more useful repetitiveness in our lives. Writing this makes me thankful for the Lord’s constant presence and consistent reminders to keep believers on His narrow path.
“Your word in a lamp to my feet and
a light to my path.”
Psalm 119:105 – ESV
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