Psalm 136:23
"Who remembered us in our low estate: for His mercy endureth forever."
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Notice the phrase, "Who remembered us." Is this not a striking contrast from our forgettings of Him? Like every other part of our beings, our memory has been affected by the fall and bears on it the marks of depravity.
This is seen from its power to retain what is worthless and the difficulty encountered to hold fast that which is good. The most tragic of all being the ease with which we forget God and His countless mercies. We turn to God when we have a need, but forget Him when the blessings come at ease. But God never forgets his people. He is the faithful Rememberer.
By looking at a concordance, you will find that the first five times the word "remember" is used in Scripture, it is connected with God.
"And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark." (Gen. 8:1).
"And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth." (Gen. 9:16).
"And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt."(Gen. 19:29), etc.
The first time it is used of man we read, "Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him." (Gen. 40:23).
The historical reference in these passages is to the children of Israel, when they were in Egypt. They were in a low estate being a nation of slaves, groaning from the treatment of their task-masters, and oppressed by a godless and heartless king.
When there was none other eye to pity, God looked upon them and heard their cries of distress. He "remembered" them in their low estate.
And why?
Exodus 2:24,25 tells us: "And God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto it."
Our text is not to be limited to the literal seed of Abraham: it has reference to the whole "Israel of God." The saints of today also can unite in saying, "Who remembered us in our low estate."
Our "estate" was indeed low by nature. Fallen mankind lay in misery and wretchedness, unable to deliver or help themselves. But in grace, God took pity on us. His strong arm reached down and rescued us. He came to where we lay, saw us, and had compassion on us. Therefore each Christian can say, "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." (Psa. 40:2).
And why did He "remember" us? The very word "remember" tells of previous thoughts of love and mercy towards us. As it was with the children of Israel in Egypt, so it was with us in our ruined condition by nature. He "remembered" His covenant, that covenant into which He had entered with our surety from everlasting. We read in Titus 1:2 of eternal life "which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world was. Promised to Christ, that He would give that eternal life to those for whom our covenant Head should transact." Yes, God "remembered" that He had "chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world," therefore did He, bring us from death unto life.
Yet this word goes beyond our initial experience of God's saving grace. Historically, our text refers not only to God remembering His people while they were in Egypt, but also, as the context shows, while they were in the wilderness, on their way to the Promised Land. Israel's experiences in the desert foreshadows the believers walk through this hostile world. And God's "remembrance" of them, manifested in the daily supply of their every need, adumbrated the rich provisions of His grace for us while we journey to our home on high.
Our present estate, here on earth, can feel like a lowly one and indeed it is. Yet, our God is ever mindful of us, and hourly He minister to us.
"Who remembered us in our low estate." Not always are we permitted to dwell upon the mount. As in the natural world, so in our experiences. Bright and sunny days give place to dark and cloudy ones: summer is followed by winter.
Disappointments, losses, afflictions, come our way, and we are brought low. And often just when we seemed to most need the comfort of friends, they failed us. Those we counted on to help, forgot us. But, even then, there was one "who remembered us" and showed Himself to be "the same yesterday and today and forever," and then did we prove afresh that "His mercy endureth forever."
"Who remembered us in our low estate." There are some who may read these lines that will think of another application of these words. Some may think of a time when they left their first love, when their heart grew cold, and their life became ungodly. Then, indeed, was your estate a low one. Yet even then did our faithful God "remember" thee.
Each of us has cause to say with the Psalmist "He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." (23:3).
"Who remembered us in our low estate." Still another application of these words may be made, namely, to the last great crisis of the believer, as he passes out of this world.
As the vital spark of the body grows dim and nature fails, then too is our "estate" low. But then also the Lord remembereth us, for "His mercy endureth forever."
Man's extremity is but God's opportunity. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. It is then that he "remembers" us by making good His comforting promises, "Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." (Isa. 41:10).
"Who remembered us in our low estate." This text will furnish us with suitable words to express our thanksgiving when we are at home, present with the Lord. We shall praise Him for His covenant faithfulness, His matchless grace, and His loving kindness, for having remembered us in our low estate!
Then we will know, even as we are known. Our very memories will be renewed, perfected, and we will remember all the way the Lord our God hath led us, recalling with gratitude and joy His faithful remembrances, acknowledging with adoration that "His mercy endureth forever."