Journal Ps 104-106 (all references are from the ESV unless noted otherwise; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “So (God) saved (Israel) from the hand of the (Pharoah and Egypt) and redeemed them from the power of the enemy. And the waters covered their adversaries (Pharoah’s soldiers); not one of them was left.
Then (Israel) believed His words; they sang His praise.
But…they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel…” Ps 106:10-13
Observation: If this is what happens to Israel, is this also what happens to Believers today? They quickly forgot what God has done; do I do as well?
Analysis: What have you done for me lately?
Whether I think this or not, the above thought becomes the default in my memory.
I have only to look at the testimony in the New Testament to see it is true: “Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?” (Matt 16:9-10, see also Mk 8:18-20)
How many times is the word “remember” as a command found in the Bible? About 155 times. And how many times is remember used to something God instructs? Over 75% (all numbers are rough).
So, using the “feeding the 5,000 and the 4,000” as a baseline to extrapolate, I figure every time God provides a miracle, I have a better than a 1 in 4 opportunity to forget that He even did such a thing as a miracle. And what about a doctrine? A promise? An (gasp) instruction?
But I am writing about “forgetting His works”, right? So, I look at creation around me and focus on the decay, rather than the promise? But the decay is representative of the promise of the Gospel. The decay of creation is of Adam’s Sin (Original Sin), and the promise of the New Heaven and New Earth is of the Gospel. Therefore, I can rejoice and be thankful/grateful for what He has promised.
Lam 3:19-23, “Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me.
But this I call to mind (remember), and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord NEVER ceases; his mercies NEVER come to an end; they are new EVERY morning.
Great is your faithfulness.
Therefore, a key verb to designate remembrance is meditate:
- I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.” Then my spirit made a DILIGENT search… (Ps 77:6)
- I will ponder all your work and meditate on your mighty deeds. (Ps 77:12)
- I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. (Ps 119:15
- Make me understand the way of your precepts and I will meditate on your wondrous works. (Ps 119:27)
- (and in worship) I will lift up my hands towards your commandments (which I love) and I will meditate on your statutes. (Ps 119:48)
The point is clear: Just like Israel, if I don’t make diligent and considerable effort to remember the Works (and Ways) of God, I will forget and start imagining alternatives (read: idols) to suit myself and my appetites.
Prayer: Lord, to lean on your Word and remember your works: How does a man make his way pure? By guarding it according to your word (Ps 119:9)
Wherever my eyes alight, allow me the ability to regard it with eyes of wisdom and wonder to not forget You.
Amen.
Ricky Two Shoes