A Life in Exile

We have talked about how God remembered specific people, places, events, and even his enemies, but we still have many passages that describe how God remembers his people in general. I’m going to divide this up into three sub-sections, the first of which relates to how God remembers us in our weakness. While the world loves to tell us how great we are, how worth it we are, and how much we have to offer, the reality is quite the opposite in view of the God of all Creation. We are small, we are like dust, we are cracked pots—still, God chooses us, uses us, and remembers us—and that brings great comfort.

The verses we’ll cover today are all found in the Old Testament, which is just another reason why we need to read the whole Bible. We learn so much about who God is and how he relates to us through the Torah, Psalms, and Prophets. Today, however, we’re going to start way, way back with the earliest of books and a man who could have despaired in his trouble—Job.

God remembers that our lives are short and full of trials.

I’m convinced that Job is the earliest of books given us because it’s a reminder that trials are nothing new. There is a heavenly struggle for the soul of every man and woman, just as there was for Job. He is a great guide for what to do with our pain—take it to God. Job would know God as the God who remembers. We also learn why he remembers us.

Anyone born of woman is short of days and full of trouble. (Job 14:1 CSB)

We, as mankind, are limited in our life on this earth and our ability to understand the world as God does. I think few would disagree that our days pass quickly. That is why we need God to remember us.

My days pass more swiftly than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope. Remember that my life is but a breath. (Job 7:6-7, emphasis added)

God knows our beginning from our end on this earth.

As water disappears from a lake and a river becomes parched and dry, so people lie down never to rise again. They will not wake up until the heavens are no more; they will not stir from their sleep. If only you would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until your anger passes. If only you would appoint a time for me and then remember me. (Job 14:11-13, emphasis added)

In his pain, Job was fearful of being forgotten by the Lord while he lived. He recognized the brevity of life and knew without the Lord, his life had no hope, no purpose. But God did remember Job, as he remembers us.

God remembers that we are mere mortals.

How did man come into being? He was created by God; formed from the dust of the earth. God breathed life into man and created a helpmate for him in the form of a woman, taken from a rib in his side. Though he enabled us to procreate, our beginning is humble, indeed. Due to the effects of sin, our lifespan was shortened by God himself.

And yet, he remembers us. The psalms are full of reminders of the grace of God’s good memory.

When I observe your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you set in place, what is a human being that you remember him, a son of man that you look after him? (Psalm 8:3-4, emphasis added)

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. For he knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust. (Psalm 103:13-14, emphasis added)

Knowing our limitations and weaknesses, God chooses to remember us in our trials. He does not forget his people when they are attacked and oppressed. He will bring judgment on the nations who rebel against him and harm those who follow him.

The wicked will return to Sheol—all the nations that forget God. For the needy will not always be  forgotten; the hope of the oppressed will not perish forever. (Psalm 9:17-18, emphasis added)

So he is oppressed and beaten down; helpless people fall because of the wicked one’s strength. He says to himself, “God has forgotten; he hides his face and will never see.” Rise up, Lord God! Lift up your hand. Do not forget the oppressed. (Psalm 10:10-12, emphasis added)

Remember this: the enemy has mocked the Lord, and a foolish people has insulted your name. Do not give to beasts the life of your dove; do not forget the lives of your poor people forever. (Psalm 74:18-19, emphasis added)

It’s okay to cry out to the Lord when you feel forgotten, when you’re weak or feel under attack by the evil one and those who do his bidding. As the people of Israel knew the salvation of the Lord against their foes, he remembers us. Not only has he saved us from the oppressive chains of sin and death, but he remembers us when we are attacked for his Name. He will avenge us against our enemies. He does not forget.

He remembered us in our humiliation

His faithful love endures forever.

and rescued us from our foes.

His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 136:23-24, emphasis added)

In his love for us, we are remembered. Paul wrote of this confidence we can have in Christ, which is our motivation for perseverance during our days on this earth.

Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body.

Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 16-18)

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Friday Focus post, click HERE, or start from the Beginning.