Psalm 119:49
Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope.
–NKJ
The writer of this verse of Psalm calls for God to remember. Remember what? Remember the very own words of God that he had promised that caused hope. Hope for what? Something better.
Psalm 119 is an extremely long psalm. This verse begins a new section of it. The writer expresses his history of learning about God’s laws and the promised benefits of living an upright life. Apparently, he isn’t feeling all the satisfaction that he thought he should. He has not only been a student of God’s teaching, but has tried his best to apply those teachings and demonstrate the relevance of scriptural teaching. Still he calls for God to remember him.
The truth about the Bible is that its a book that teaches us how to live here on earth. God tells us what kind of things to do to give him honor, the blessings he will give for doing it, and the curses if we don’t. OK, I’m doing that God, so where’s the blessings, remember? Sometimes no word is good word. God already placed us on a globe that is fruitful, and capable to produce all we need for food shelter, clothes and recreation. It’s up to each of us to find our own work, and satisfaction out of it.
The Bible teaches how to get along with people. In a nutshell, treat people with goodness and respect and it will come back to you. Treat them badly, and you get nasty things back. Probably the true test of God’s love is actually putting it to the test and loving others. It’s easy to love a couple of people, even easy to like a few more. As for the rest it might be said that they are all liked in a way. A way off, and for most of them the farther the better.
I think the psalmist had a little of this attitude. As I read through his words in the verses that follow, he seems to have real joy in describing his joy and gladness in his relationship to God. He makes some statements about his unhappiness over the evil people who don’t honor God. Evil people who would bind him, and for what? Just being a nice, Godly guy? Remember me God. Remember your promises.
Why is it that a person tries to love, honor, obey, and do all the right things that God has meant to be done, and there are still people in the world who hate, and want to do that person harm. Here’s a secret. They don’t hate you. They hate God. They may not ever have known God, but they see him living in your life and can’t stand to see the blessings you have. To them it just is not normal to be happy.
The evil people see a believer from the outside, doing all the same kinds of things that they do, but somehow things just go your way. God blesses you. Even worse than that, when things don’t go so well, the believer gets back up, dusts himself off, and says, “Praise God anyway.” To them it just isn’t normal. On the outside, it does seem wierd. They don’t see the inside. Life isn’t a matter of what you do, but your attitude while doing it.
God does remember. If we stop and think about, even on our worst of days, we can find blessings. Count them and see. If you just can’t think of any, it’s time to get in touch with that inner spark of love for God. There are plenty of times when we get knocked down in life, whether by our own doing or at the hand of someone else. Being knocked down is never fun, but it’s the getting up that makes it all worth while. Remember me God, and help me up.