How Does God Remember Us?
Psalms 25:7 “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.”
“Remember me.” Oftentimes we say these words to people who are heading out to seek fortune and fame. When they “strike it rich,” we hope they will remember all the good times we’ve shared and none of the bad times, all of the favors and none of the arguments. But have you ever thought about how God remembers you?
This week’s text starts out as a plea to God asking Him not to remember the sins of youth nor the transgressions of life. Instead, the psalmist King David said, “according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake.” Now out of this portion of the text I want to focus on two elements, mercy and goodness.
(1) Mercy
First David made his plea to God according to God’s mercy. What is so significant about this?
Lamentations 3rd Chapter
22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
In other words, David is asking God to forgive him of all the “mess” he’s done before. What David is really after is a new beginning, and the thing that makes David’s plea significant is a new beginning is promised to us every morning due to God’s mercy. I know we’ve sung songs about “In That Great Gettin’ Up Morning,” but I’m here to tell you that if your feet hit the floor in the morning – – – it is truly a “Great Gettin’ Up Morning.” It can be the first day of the rest of your life. It is a day that the Lord has made for a fresh start, a new beginning, and a new chapter of your life. He didn’t give you a new day so that you could re-live old junk.
(2) Goodness
Let’s go back to our text.
Psalms 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.
Now David made his plea based on God’s mercy; however, the purpose was to see God’s goodness. In other words, David said, “Lord for the sake (purpose, advantage, motive) of your goodness, according to your mercy, remember me.” Let me say it this way: “Lord, for me to see your goodness, experience your goodness, get the manifestation of your goodness, walk in your goodness, and receive your goodness according to your mercy, don’t remember what I did wrong. Instead, remember why you created me.”
I believe that God can easily forget our shortcomings and transgressions because we were made for His goodness. As we ask Him to forgive us, He is eager to do so because He is always mindful of why He created us. It wasn’t to go to hell and go through hell. It was for His goodness! So even when we miss the mark and fall short of His glory, He still remembers why He made us.
He made us to experience His goodness following us every day of our lives (Psalms 23:6)
He made us to see His goodness in the land of the living. (Psalms 27:13)
He made us to receive His goodness that is “laid up” in heaven for us. (Psalms 31:19)
He made us to tell others about His goodness and the abundance of His goodness. (Psalms 145:7)
He made us to see His goodness because His goodness is simply great! (Zechariah 9:17)
He made us to fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness in our lives (2 Thessalonians 1:11)
So beloved of God, be encouraged and know that even when you miss the mark, God will remember you for the sake of His Goodness!
