At a wedding, there are two words that are more readily identifiable than any others: I. Do. Simple words, but what do they mean? They are not standalone words. They have to be paired with something. If you just heard the two words “I do” with no context, it could be the answer to, “Do you want a cheeseburger?” or “Do you like to play basketball.” When the words “I do” are the response, they mean the person is in agreement with the question that was just posed. At a wedding the question is, “Do you _______ take _________ to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her, for as long as you both shall live?” (or something similar) The agreement is to follow through with the agreement with everything that was just said.
In Deuteronomy 27, the Israelites say their “I Do’s” so to speak, only they use the term “Amen.” The Levites would make a statement like, “Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place.” And the people would answer, “Amen” or I agree with what was just said. Then the Levites would go to the next thing, and again, the people would say, “I DO agree with that.”
When you say “Amen” in church, it shouldn’t just be “Pastor seemed to be really animated about whatever it was he just said, so I should probably say ‘Amen.'” You ought to be paying close attention to what is being preached, so that when Pastor says something, you can say, “Amen” or “I agree with what you just said.
I know a preacher who likes to say something completely wrong and then say, “AMEN?” To which some people wholeheartedly respond “AMEN!” For instance, “The more we do for God, the more God loves us. Amen?” If you loudly respond “I agree [Amen]” it’s obvious that you weren’t paying attention. The Levites didn’t throw trick questions at the Israelites, but they did ask some very serious things.
They dealt with idolatry, dishonorable behavior, theft, dishonesty, adultery, murder…a solid summary of the ten commandments. The people agreed to the covenant back in Exodus 19, and now they are affirming their commitment to follow God.
Sometimes we need to be brought back to our commitments and renew them. Like renewing wedding vows, sometimes, we need to be brought back to our commitment to love, honor, and obey God. Do you __________ agree to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? I do.