Psalm 106

Well, it has been quite a while since my last post. But my prayer and expectation is to be more regular in doing so going forward. So, tune in, put on your thinking cap and your devotional robes, and join me for time on our knees in the Book.

Read Psalm 106. It's too long to post here, but it is so rich, illuminating, and presents some interesting questions.

Among the questions that it does present I want to consider one, that is, what role does the practice of remembrance play in salvation? Now, when I use salvation there, I do not mean the narrow idea of our conversion experience when we repent and believe the gospel, but, rather, the broader meaning of salvation: deliverance and rescue as is meant in the context of the psalm. Yet, as you will see, there is significant application to be made with respect to our sanctification: our growth in holiness.

Read the psalm again and note the usage of "remember" and "forget" and what follows.

The psalmist writes in verse 7, "Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea." The Israelites did not consider God's works, nor remember his love, instead they rebelled. The implication is that if they had remembered God's love and mighty deeds, they would have done differently.

Again, he writes in verse 13-14, "But they soon forgot his works...they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert." While in the desert after leaving Sinai, the people forgot God's miraculous work and provision, and complained, imagining that it would be better to return to Egypt.

And again, the psalmist writes that the people "forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea" (v21-22). This immediately follows the psalmist's retelling of the making of the golden calf, which seems to imply that their forgetfulness was the cause of their wickedness: exchanging the glory of God and worshipping a metal image.

What was the result of the Israelites forgetfulness? God sent a disease among the people (v15). God said he would destroy them (v23). The Israelites despised the land (v24), did not believe in God's promises (v24), and disobeyed God's commands (v25, 28, 34-39). And for this God "raised his hand" (v26), was provoked to anger (v29, 32, 40), and "abhorred his heritage" (v41).

"Nevertheless" (v43) or "Yet" (v8), in due time and according to God's sovereign pleasure, God acted for 1) his glory and 2) his people's good. 1) "Yet he saved them for his names's sake, that he might make known his mighty power" (v8). 2) "Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry. For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love" (v44-45). Even when the people didn't deserve it, when they were set in their sins and rebellion, God delivered them out of his steadfast love. For "his steadfast love endures forever" (v1).

So what does remembrance have to do with salvation? It appears that when God's people fail to remember his goodness, faithfulness, wondrous works, and steadfast love, only judgment follows. God must take our place and do what we have failed to do; in this case: remember. The people did not remember God and his works, and so God remembered his covenant. May I propose that remembrance is a God-ordained means to his grace and deliverance. That is why the psalmist bookends the psalm (v1-5 and 47-48) with praising the Lord, giving thanks for his his love, calling to mind his mighty deeds, and beseeching the Lord to remember and save his people.

What can we take away? What can we apply? Let us remember the one who is greater than Moses, yet stood in the breach on our behalf; who out of his love for his people and "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross" (Heb. 12.2). Let us remember the gospel, that Jesus died for our sins and rose again, the firstfruits of our resurrection. We are not saved by remembrance, but might it be proper to say that remembrance is one means by which we are being saved (c.f. 1 Cor. 15. 1-2)?

Moreover, as regards our sanctification, hear Peter's words, "For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins" (2 Pet. 1.9). We can become blind, forgetting that we were washed clean and justified by faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we need to remember the gospel everyday, because we never move beyond our need of its grace, power, and blessing. That is why Peter said, "I intend always to remind you.... I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder" (2 Pet. 1.12-13). And so should we do for one another in the body of Christ.