Comfort for Christians
by Arthur W. Pink, 1952
THE DIVINE
REMEMBERER
"He remembered us in our low estate: for His mercy
endures forever." (Psalm 136:23)
"He remembered us." This is in striking and blessed
contrast from our forgettings of Him. Like every other faculty of our
beings, the 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. A
foolish nursery-rhyme or song heard in youth, is carried with us to the
grave; a helpful sermon is forgotten within twenty-four hours! But most
tragic and solemn of all is the ease with which we forget God and His
countless mercies. But, blessed be His name, God never forgets us. He is the
faithful Rememberer.
We were very much impressed when, on consulting the
concordance, we found that the first five times the word "remember" is used
in Scripture, in each case 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 rainbow 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The historical reference here is to the children of
Israel, when they were toiling amid the brick-kilns of Egypt. Truly they
were in a "low estate": a nation of slaves, groaning beneath the lash of
merciless task-masters, oppressed by a godless and heartless king. But when
there was none other eye to pity, Jehovah 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."
But our text is not to be limited to the literal seed of
Abraham: it has reference to the whole "Israel of God" (Gal. 6:16). The
saints of this present Day of salvation also unite in saying, "He remembered
us in our low estate." How "low" was our "estate" by nature! As fallen
creatures we lay in our misery and wretchedness, unable to deliver or help
ourselves. But, in wondrous 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 (Luke 10:33). Therefore can each Christian 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" (Psalm 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. As 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" (Eph. 1:4), therefore did He, in due
time, bring us from death unto life.
Yet this blessed 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 but foreshadow the saints' walk through
this hostile world. And Jehovah'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, is but a lowly one, for we do not now reign as kings. Yet, is our
God ever mindful of us, and hourly does 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,
bereavements came our way, and we were brought low. And ofttimes 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 endures 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:
namely, the time when you left your first love, when your heart grew cold,
and your life became worldly. When you were in a sadly backslidden state.
Then, indeed, was your estate a low one; yet even then did our faithful God
"remember" you. Yes, each of us has cause to say with the Psalmist "He
restores my soul; He leads 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 saint, 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 remembers us, for "His mercy endures 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 not,
for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen
you, yes, I will help you, yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of My
righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).
"Who remembered us in our low estate." Surely this text
will furnish us with suitable words to express our thanksgiving when we are
at Home, present with the Lord. How we shall then praise Him for His
covenant faithfulness, His matchless grace, and His loving kindness, for
having "remembered us in our low estate!" Then shall we know, even as we are
known. Our very memories will be renewed, perfected, and we shall remember
all the way the Lord our God has led us" (Deut. 8:2), recalling with
gratitude and joy His faithful remembrances, acknowledging with adoration
that "His mercy endures forever!"