REMEMBERING

Godly people often travel through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. The Psalmist was experiencing such distress that he complained that his soul was in such torment that it had refused comfort:

·       Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?...I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. (Psalms 77:7-9, 11-12)

At this time of such grief, the Psalmist resorted to a remedy that had often been the last resort of the godly. He would remember what God had done for him. The fact that the Bible often counsels us to remember reflects some basic truths of the Christian life:

Life is filled with sorrows, but these prepare us for the return of our Lord and incline us to long for His return:

·       Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Our faith will undergo testing to be purified:

·       In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

The trials teach us many valuable lessons. We learn, among other things, that we do not have what it takes but God does (John 15:4-5; 2 Corinthians 3:5; 1:8-9)

These testings/trials are inevitably painful:

·       For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)

There is no quick fix. Often, we simply have to patiently endure in faith.

Our Lord wants us to live by trusting in the unseen and not in our circumstances:

·       So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:6-7)

Sometimes, it seems that all we are capable of doing is to remember our mighty and merciful God. Israel was continually confronted with threats that exceeded their own abilities. Moses, therefore, would counsel them to remember what their God had done for them:

·       “If you say in your heart, 'These nations are greater than I. How can I dispossess them?' you shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt, the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out. So will the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. Moreover, the Lord your God will send hornets among them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you are destroyed. You shall not be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God.” (Deuteronomy 7:17-21)

I too am remembering how great and awesome is our God, as I pass through my Valley of the Shadow of Death and look towards the things above, knowing that the battle is the Lord’s.

King Jehoshaphat knew that there was no hope against the powerful armies approaching Jerusalem. Prayerfully remembering God was their only hope:

·       [In desperation] all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel…And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:13-15)

Our battles always belong to our Savior, who works all things for our good (Romans 8:28).