REMEMBER ME , O LORD.

REMEMBER ME , O LORD.

Text-Neh-5:19, 13: 14, 22, 31. Isa38:1-5.

The key words in this sentence are “Remember” and “LORD”.

“Remember “ Is to be able to bring back a piece of information into your mind or is to be able to keep a piece of information in your memory. Is to not forget. It is to do something required and it also connotes the reception of special attention.

“LORD” to define LORD is inexhaustible but in a nutshell, He can be defined as the creator of heaven and earth, the author and finisher of our faith, all knowing God, our rock, our refuge, our fortress, our shepherd, our King and redeemer. He is very caring, loving, kind, merciful, gracious, compassionate, forgiving, mighty, awesome and always ready to listen to our humble cry and act on it.

Remember me, O LORD, could be a plea from someone who is heavily laden, burdened with a load care, or one who feels neglected, abandoned, forsaken,

frustrated, or broken in spirit. And one who needs divine intervention.

It could be a prayer to God for special attention, for mercy, for God to do something urgently about the person’s situation or predicament. It could be a request made in an urgent and emotional manner.

When someone asks the LORD to remember him or her, the person is asking him to pay more attention to his or her situation or predicament, or to take away a reproach or to intervene in his or her case against any adversary. Or asking for mercy.

“Remember me, O LORD” occurs in the scriptures many times and people like  Nehemiah and  Hezekiah leveraged on it. But it is not even in the nature or character of God to forget his creation or anything pertaining to humans. We are reminded of how Zion lamented as follows: “ But Zion said, The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.” The LORD answered, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”Isa 49:14-15. This is an assurance for us that our LORD can never forget us. What we are passing through, our state of mind and feelings may connote or suggest that God has forgotten us, when we feel depressed or going through difficult circumstances or overwhelmed, just remember the word of God “I WILL NOT FORGET YOU.” and believe it.

Let us consider some characters in the Bible who cried onto the LORD to remember them.

Hezekiah.

When Hezekiah became ill and was at a point of death, the LORD sent prophet Isaiah to him that he should put his house in order, that he was going to die because he would not recover from the sickness. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD. “ Remember, O LORD, how I have walked

before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes” Isa 38:4. And he wept bitterly. The LORD hearkened to his prayer and remembered him and spontaneously sent Isaiah back to him.” I have heard your prayers and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.” God did not only heal him, he elongated his life, promised him a peaceful reign in his domain as a king in Judah, defense and protection.

Brethren, the lesson from Hezekiah’s case, is that God remembers all that we do and as soon as Hezekiah reminded God, he remembered him and acted promptly. I pray we too would have good deeds to remind God to remember us for. And in actual fact, God wants us to put him in remembrance, by pleading our case so that we may be justified. Isa 43:26.

Nehemiah-

He was a Jew in exile, serving king Artaxerxes of Persia as a cupbearer. But when he had about the desolation of Jerusalem and the suffering of those who returned to Jerusalem from exile he was so touched and moved with compassion. He wept, mourned, fasted and prayed and sought the face of the LORD. The king noticed that he was troubled and he was eventually permitted to leave for Jerusalem. He made up his mind to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem with the support of some people, even though there was a great opposition, it was completed within fifty two days. He removed the heavy burden of tax placed upon the people. He helped the poor, fed many freely, corrected the ills in the society, ensured that the levites purify themselves and kept the sabbath day holy. He reverenced God and worked faithfully in the household of God. From a cupbearer in exile at Susa, God honoured him with kingship and he became the king of Judah. As a king he did not be-labour the citizens, and he made sure their seized lands were returned to them. Nehemiah leveraged on all he did

and reminded God that God should remember him. He said “Remember me with favour, O my God , for all I have done for these people.”Neh 5: 19. Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services. Neh 13:14. Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, O my God , and show mercy to me according to your great love. I also made provision for contributions of wood at designated times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me with favour, O my God. Neh13:31.” Nehemiah had so many good deeds he wanted God to remember him for. He received God’s favour and blessing and God gave him a true and lasting reward.

Nehemiah was a man of prayer, relied on God for everything without wavering, he persevered and made his people to serve God and made them to keep the sabbath day holy.

Brethren, what good deeds will you want God to remember you for? The Bible says Jesus went about doing good. Let us follow our Lord’s examples so that we can have lots to remind God to remember us for.

When God remembers us, a lot of benefits accrue.

One will experience joy and reproach will be put away. For example when He remembered Hannah and Rachel he opened their wombs which were temporarily closed and blessed Hannah with Samuel, and Rachel with Joseph. Thereby barrenness turned to fruitfulness.1Sam 1:20, Gen 30:22.

Reward and honour can be bestowed on one as it happened to Mordecai when He made  king Xerxes to remember Mordecai’s good deed towards him.Esther 6:1-11.

He can avenge for one as he did for the Israelites against the Amalekites when he remembered their wicked acts.1Sam 15:1-3.

He will preserve one from destruction and from any form of disaster as he did for Noah and his family during the flood. Gen 8:15-18.

He can enlarge our coast and make us wax stronger  as he did for the Hebrew midwives who did not obey Pharaoh’s instructions but spared the male children born by the Hebrew women. Exo 1:20-21.

Brethren, I am sure we all wish the LORD to count our good works and reward us with His blessing and favours and goodness. Heb 6:10 says “For God is not unjust, he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and you continue to help them.” Remember he can not forget anything about us. However, if there is any wicked acts in our lives, let us ask for mercy and forgiveness. May we all experience divine remembrance in Jesus name.

Prayer.

Gracious and merciful Father, put me in your remembrance and kindly remember me for favour, good, promotion, lifting, grace and mercy..

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.