Ezekiel 16:60-63, God Remembers (3)

God remembers with perfection.  But God also forgets with perfection.  In Christ, under the New Covenant, because the ransom has been paid for redemption, God remembers our sins no more (Jer. 31:34).  What this means is that He no longer holds them to account or “mentions” them.  That is an aspect of the Hebrew term for “remember.”  Josh. 23:7 commanded the people of Israel not to “make mention” (i.e. remember) other gods.  That is how I would understand the New Covenant, that God remembers our sins and iniquities no more.

God remembers with perfection.  We also should have a good memory of God.  God’s people were to remember God.  When they prospered they needed to remember God, that He was the one who enabled them to create wealth (Dt. 8:18).  Israel’s “down times” during the period of the Judges were the result not remembering God (Jud. 8:34).  Solomon said it would be good for a person in their youth to remember their Creator, before old age comes and it is hard to remember anything (Eccl. 12:1).

God’s people were to remember God’s character, such as His righteousness (Ps. 76:16), His lovingkindness, praises and goodness (Isa. 63:7) and His name (Ps. 119:55; cf. Ex. 34:6-7 for the character of God that is bound up in His name).

God’s people were to remember His word.  The Israelites had tassels hanging from their garments that were intended to remind them of God’s commandments (Num. 15:39).  Joshua needed to remember the words of Moses who spoke for God, that He was giving the land to Israel (Josh. 1:13).  An important aspect of God’s word to be remembered were His covenants (1 Chr. 16:15).  Even if the people failed to keep their part of the covenants, God was always faithful to keep His part (2 Tim. 2:13).

God’s people were to remember His deeds and wonders and mighty works (1 Chron. 16:12).  The Law said, “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.”  The Sabbath was a reminder that God was the Creator and had rested on the seventh day. Frequently Israel was reminded to remember (note that we need to be prompted to remember) the Exodus when God delivered them from bondage in Egypt (e.g. Dt. 7:18).  The Passover served this purpose as did the “unleavened bread” they ate for a week after Passover (Dt. 16:3).  They were to remember how God led them in the wilderness (Dt. 8:2) so they would be assured of His continual leading.  Many of the Psalms were “historical” so as to remind Israel of God’s deeds in the past (a great illustration was Ps. 104-106 which covers from Creation to the time of the Psalmist). 

On these things we are to remember (call to mind, repeat them), meditate (think long and hard) and muse (think about regularly, even singing these things).