There isn’t a one with a reminiscence as lengthy and good because the Almighty God of all Creation. We discovered consolation within the earlier posts by the conclusion that God remembers his folks. Those that are the recipients of his good reminiscence from in the present day’s verses won’t discover the identical consolation. Who’re these folks? The enemies of God.
God remembers rebellious nations.
Within the historical past of Israel, there have been complete folks teams and nations residing in opposition to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They knew what the God of Israel had finished for his folks, and a few even had a blood lineage to the nation, however of their love for idols and immorality, they turned enemies of God and his chosen folks.
We see in lots of locations of Scripture the wrath God will present on such nations, however in the present day we are going to take a look at those who relate to God remembering their deeds. Of their exile, the Israelites sang a mournful music of lament, a part of which mentioned:
Bear in mind, Lord, what the Edomites mentioned that day at Jerusalem: “Destroy it! Destroy it right down to its foundations!” Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, completely satisfied is the one who pays you again
what you’ve got finished to us. (Psalm 137:7-8 CSB, emphasis added)
Not solely was Edom destroyed, however we all know a particular wrath was reserved by God for Babylon and people who adopted her evil methods.
Then the seventh poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice got here out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It’s finished!” There have been flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. And a extreme earthquake occurred like no different since folks have been on the earth, so nice was the quake. The nice metropolis cut up into three components, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the Nice was remembered in God’s presence; he gave her the cup full of the wine of his fierce anger. (Revelation 16:17-19, emphasis added).
Although it might not look like it in the present day, God does keep in mind and can pour out his wrath on those that stay in opposition to his rule.
God remembers those that work in opposition to his folks.
The land was desolate, the temple in ruins, and the partitions of Jerusalem damaged. When the exiles returned to their land, it was not a reasonably sight. Fortunately, God used males like Nehemiah and Ezra to steer the folks in rebuilding the partitions and restoring worship. Their job, nonetheless, was made troublesome by males against the return of the Jews and the restoration of town. Tobiah, Sanballat and others always put up roadblocks to the work. Simply as God remembers the opposition of hostile nations, he remembers the opposition of people.
Once they tried to trick Nehemiah by getting him to return to a gathering the place he can be attacked, Nehemiah noticed by their ruse and shared what occurred.
My God, keep in mind Tobiah and Sanballat for what they’ve finished, and likewise the prophetess Noadiah and the opposite prophets who needed to intimidate me.
The wall was accomplished in fifty-two days, on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul. When all our enemies heard this, all the encircling nations had been intimidated and misplaced their confidence, for they realized that this activity had been achieved by our God. (Nehemiah 6:14-16, emphasis added)
As an alternative of getting his personal revenge on their enemies, Nehemiah trusted God to recollect and produce vengeance.
As additional reforms had been made throughout this era, Nehemiah additionally knew God would keep in mind those that had labored in defiling the holy order of the priesthood by marriage with international girls.
Bear in mind them, my God, for defiling the priesthood in addition to the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. So I purified them from all the things international and assigned particular duties to every of the monks and Levites. (Nehemiah 13:29-30, emphasis added)
Once we wrestle with people who find themselves working in direct opposition to the issues of God, it’s good for us to recollect Nehemiah and go away the remembering to God. He’ll maintain them accountable.
God remembers the nice and the evil.
Asaph writes a psalm that displays the ache we frequently really feel when evil appears to realize an higher hand over God’s folks and plans. He struggled with the destruction and continued persecution they endured. He knew God was omnipotent and able to nice issues. He knew all issues had been beneath his management and but, he was hurting. Would God save those that adopted him?
The final part of Psalm 74 is a prayer for God to recollect and maintain their enemies accountable for all they’d finished.
Bear in mind this: the enemy has mocked the Lord, and a silly folks has insulted your identify. Don’t give to beasts the lifetime of your dove; don’t forget the lives of your poor folks ceaselessly. Contemplate the covenant, for the darkish locations of the land are filled with violence. Don’t let the oppressed flip away in disgrace; let the poor and needy reward your identify. Stand up, God, champion your trigger! Bear in mind the insults that fools deliver in opposition to you all day lengthy. Don’t forget the clamor of your adversaries, the tumult of your opponents that goes up always. (Psalm 74:18-23, emphasis added)
It’s not a contradiction to wish for God to carry our enemies accountable for his or her evil deeds. Whereas we pray for Christ to alter hearts, there shall be those that flip their backs on the message of salvation and work in opposition to God. Ultimately, he is aware of the distinction—why? As a result of he is aware of the center of man. That’s the reason we are able to let go, wiping the mud off our ft when folks refuse the message of Christ or do evil towards us. We are able to let go, understanding God will keep in mind the alternatives they’ve made and acts they’ve dedicated in opposition to him and his folks. He’ll decide in righteousness as solely he can do. He’ll keep in mind, and in that we are able to discover nice solace and peace.
Grace and Peace
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