Remembering

The process of recalling the past, especially the presence and activity of God in the history of his people. Remembering God's work in the past can lead to praise and rejoicing, and to hope for the future. God himself remembers.

Divine remembering

God always remembers his covenant

1 Chronicles 16:15 parallel Psalm 105:8 See also Genesis 9:14–16; Exodus 2:23–25; Psalm 111:5; Luke 1:69–73

Remember His covenant forever, the word He ordained for a thousand generations—

God always remembers his promises

Psalm 105:42 See also Deuteronomy 6:20–23; Joshua 1:3; 2 Peter 3:9

For He remembered His holy promise to Abraham His servant.

God always remembers his people

Isaiah 49:15–16 See also Genesis 7:24–8:1, Genesis 19:29, Genesis 30:22; 1 Samuel 1:19–20; Luke 1:54–55

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will not forget you! Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.

Situations in which God will not remember

Hebrews 8:10–12 See also Jeremiah 31:33–34; Isaiah 65:16–17; Ezekiel 18:21–24

For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

The Holy Spirit helps believers to remember Jesus Christ and his words

John 14:26 See also John 2:22, John 12:16, John 16:4

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.

Human remembering

Believers are to remember God's person

Deuteronomy 8:18; Psalm 119:55 See also Psalm 42:5–6; Jeremiah 51:50; Jonah 2:7

But remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you the power to gain wealth, in order to confirm His covenant that He swore to your fathers even to this day.

In the night, O LORD, I remember Your name, that I may keep Your law.

Believers are to remember God's acts in the past

Isaiah 46:9 See also Deuteronomy 5:15, Deuteronomy 7:17–18, Deuteronomy 8:10–18; 1 Chronicles 16:12; Matthew 16:9–10

Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.

Believers are to remember God's wrath

Deuteronomy 9:7–8 See also 2 Peter 3:1–10

Remember this, and never forget how you provoked the LORD your God in the wilderness. From the day you left the land of Egypt until you reached this place, you have been rebelling against the LORD. At Horeb you provoked the LORD, and He was angry enough to destroy you.

Believers are to remember God's commands

Numbers 15:38–40 See also Deuteronomy 8:1–2; Psalm 103:17–18

“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout the generations to come they are to make for themselves tassels for the corners of their garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. These will serve as tassels for you to look at, so that you may remember all the commandments of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by following your own heart and your own eyes. Then you will remember and obey all My commandments, and you will be holy to your God.

Believers are to remember their responsibilities towards one another

Acts 20:35 See also Galatians 2:10; Hebrews 13:2–3

In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Believers are to remember the death of Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 11:24–28; Luke 22:17–20

and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.

The importance of remembering

Remembering should lead to rejoicing

Psalm 13:5–6 See also Deuteronomy 26:4–11; Psalm 66:5–6

But I have trusted in Your loving devotion; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me.

Remembering should lead to repentance

Revelation 3:3 See also Ezekiel 16:59–63; Matthew 5:23–24, Matthew 26:75 parallels Mark 14:72, Luke 22:61–62; Revelation 2:5

Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.

Remembering should lead to understanding

Luke 24:6–8 See also John 15:20, John 16:1–4; Acts 11:15–18

He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ ” Then they remembered His words.

Remembering should produce hope for the future

Lamentations 3:21–24 See also Psalm 42:4–11, Psalm 103:1–2; Hebrews 10:32–36

Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.”