Psalm 119:49 Remember the Source of Hope

Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.

Psalm 119:49

David asks the Lord to remember - or remind, as we would say it - him of the Word.

He's not just asking God to help him memorize scriptures, although that's certainly a good thing to ask for.

Some people, by nature, are excellent at memorizing. God helped them blessing them with the genetic markers that produced the sort of brain biology that stores and organizes and maintains information more efficiently and effectively.

Others are good at memorizing by nurture. God blessed them with the the sort of home environment and educational opportunities to train their brains for efficient and effective remembering.

For the rest of us, we need His help to make up for the deficiencies of our neurological make-up or our educational shortcomings. Ask God to not only help you remember, but for Him to help you discover the methods and tools that can help you.

But I don't think David is asking only for the Lord to help him with the neuro-mechanics of storage and recall. What he needs is help sorting through the multitude of memories and thoughts and ideas, so that he can remember what is most important.

Not everything bouncing around in David's mind gave him hope.

The dismissive comments and treatment from his older brothers did not give him hope as he contemplated facing Goliath. But his stored memories of the scriptures offered great hope, especially when those were intertwined with his memories of how God had come through and helped him when he acted on the promises of God to protect his flock from predators.

The memory of his rapidly deteriorating relationship with a jealous King Saul did not offer David much hope when he was fleeing for his life from the king and his army. But his mental storehouse of God's word, combined with his memories of all the times God had proved trustworthy, offered a hope that had to seem unreasonable to some of those around him. They especially must have wondered about David's "super hope" when he chose to pass on the opportunity to end Saul's life, because of his faith in the promises of God.

When there seems to be no hope, remember God's promises. when the world around you seems to be careening toward insanity and depravity, ask God to help you remember His Word.

American culture in the 21st century has become combative and dismissive and downright rude. When your gut reaction is respond by going into "righteous" combat mode, dismissive arrogance toward enemies, and returning rudeness for rudeness, stop.

Remember God's Word. Remember you are His servant. Remember there is hope in approaching tough times His way.