In Remembrance of Me

Memories are useful. In times of gladness or peace, they can encourage or warn, depending on the circumstance. As we look back over our lives, we consider what has gone before to inform us concerning the present and to plan for the future. Some memories are painful and cause distress when revived, yet even these are useful as we work through them. They are a good gift of God to aid us. They establish patterns of faithfulness for how the Lord had acted in times of need and indicate a certain future. This is especially needful in the time of adversity or affliction. Under the stress of the situation, we become myopic and lose confidence in our Lord’s promises and deeds, wondering whether God was willfully negligent or forgetful, losing sight that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the God of Jesus, Paul, and Peter, and is the Lord God Almighty over heaven and earth today.

Individual adversity is especially difficult because we assume that none other has faced the same level of misery. We feel isolated and tend to assume that something, some fault of ours, has invited the hardship, therefore God will not give us His time or attention. Whether or not we may have had a hand in bringing about a situation, or are simply suffering for doing good, as followers of the one true God, we are neither abandoned nor neglected. The Lord still cares for His children.

At one point, Asaph experienced a hardship of which we have no details giving us Psalm 77. Being distraught, he sought the Lord with outstretched arms, seeking His intervention.

I remembered God and was glad;
I complained, and my spirit became discouraged. (Ps 76:4 LXX [Ps 77:3])

Notice the contrast brought to light in the Septuagint (LXX): complaint brought discouragement, but remembering God brought gladness. Here is the attitude that overcomes. Asaph was distraught in beseeching his Lord and refused to be comforted, but then he turned his attention away from his immediate circumstance:

I thought of the days of old,
And I remembered the eternal years; and I meditated. (Ps 77:5)

Asaph wrestled within himself that God might cast him off or cut off His mercy—basically wallow in the despair of the situation—but instead saw it in light of eternity and was able to view it in proper perspective: more as a momentary, light affliction (2 Cor 4:17).

I said, “Now I am beginning to see;
This change is by the right hand of the Most High.” (Ps 76:11 [Ps 77:10])

Again the LXX gives clarity: when Asaph turns his attention on the Lord, he can see His hand in the situation and can rest in Him. He remembers the Lord’s works and wonders, deeds and ways, habitation in the midst of His people, power, and redeeming work (77:11–20).

As stated above, memories are good gifts, and as noted with the example of Asaph, they need not be experienced firsthand. The psalmist had no direct dealings with the Exodus and subsequent wanderings, yet they were definite, true events directed by the Lord on which he could base his hope and trust. Christians have this same certainty in what God has accomplished through His marvelous work. There is a popular Christian song currently playing that alludes to the work of the Lord in His people:

“Famous For (I Believe)” by Tauren Wells

Make way through the waters

Walk me through the fire

Do what You are famous for

What You are famous for

Shut the mouths of lions

Bring dry bones to life and

Do what You are famous for

What You are famous for

I believe in You, God

I believe in You

I appreciate the songwriter desiring for God to do what He is famous for, but he chose the wrong mighty works. Better would have focused on the singular mighty work of redemption and sins forgiven. Better to speak of being baptized into Christ. Better to speak of receiving His body and blood in the bread and cup. What better than to obey our Lord’s command, “Do this in remembrance of Me”? These are the wonders and works that God is most famous for. Let us remember.

I Remember

One of the themes I considered in my preparation for the Lord’s Supper devotional was remembrance.  Jesus said on that night, “Do this in remembrance of me,” as recorded by both Luke (Luke 22:19) and Paul (1 Cor 11:24-25).  Remembrance does not mean that we forget about something and then bring it to mind again, rather it is a deliberate act of the will to hold someone or something at the forefront to consider it intently.  Such consideration causes one to act in a way that recognizes the associated importance in all its aspects.  Do a study of remembering and remembrance in scripture, and much the same is found.  People and events are to be remembered with appropriate actions or honorifics applied.

What I found interesting were the occasions where God remembered.  From Noah (Gen 8:1) to fallen Babylon (Rev 16:19; 18), we find him paying specific attention to a person or group and acting accordingly.  For Noah, there was new hope and new life after the sinful was destroyed.  For Babylon, nothing but utter destruction remains.  Both of these are by the Almighty’s hand, but it is to his elect that there is always good both now and forever in you.  His actions in time and space have eternal ramifications, so that he takes special care to let the people understand their place.  This is brought out nicely by the prophet Malachi.

Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another.  The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.  They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.  Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.  (Mal 3:16-18)

Those walking by faith have there names written in God’s book of remembrance.  I imagine that this is one the books opened on the last day, possibly the very book of life (Rev 20:12-15).  Whatever the case, there is comfort in the certainty that he acts and will act on behalf of those who believe on him.

It is this last point that causes us to remember him.  We look back at both the commands and the promises seeing how they have been and are being fulfilled.  As Israel regularly brought the Lord to mind in their deliberate actions of daily, weekly, and annual worship, we living under the new covenant are called to do the same.  This helps us to understand what Jesus meant in the remembrance found in the bread and cup.  We remember, because he remembers.  We call to mind, because he had us ever in mind.

As we come together on Sunday, is Jesus remembered for remembering us and gaining access to the Father through the Holy Spirit?  What more proper thing is there to consider?