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THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER TODAY (Psalm 70)

Many years ago, I started writing notes to myself so I wouldn’t forget to do things. Now, I keep them on my phone, but occasionally, I still do it the old-fashioned way by putting them on paper and posting them somewhere I will see them. We all need reminders.

Psalm 70 is only five verses long, but I like to say that it is a little note of remembrance. Its title even says that its purpose is “to bring remembrance.”

It is as if David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said, “I’m going to write a little note to myself and others so we will remember this.”

We know that it is a reminder because, in many ways, it mirrors Psalm 40. Spurgeon said Psalm 70 is almost like an excerpt from Psalm 40, where David returned to something he had learned previously and rehearsed it:

Verses 1-5: “Make haste, o God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O Lord. Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt. Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, make no tarrying.”

What was the psalmist trying to bring to remembrance in these verses?

We need to pray.

We are instructed in I Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Yet that is the first thing we often forget to do. Psalm 70 begins and ends with prayer. In fact, the first and fifth verses have several parallels.

David asked for the Lord’s urgent answer as if it were an emergency. You can get hold of God in an emergency if you stay in touch with Him every day. Some people only call on Him when things get really bad as if He is our spiritual 911 or spare tire. David lived consciously in His presence every day. When you walk with God, you can talk to Him at any moment.

These verses emphasize a dual request - to be helped and delivered. God’s deliverance comes when He brings us out of our circumstances, and His help comes when He goes with us through those circumstances. Aren’t you glad that God can help you right where you are and bring you out on the other side?

God is present, and He has a future for you. He can give you strength today to keep moving forward, and at some point, He will deliver you entirely.

God is greater than our enemies.

This is a repeated refrain throughout the Psalms. In verse 2, David asked for shame and confusion among those who wanted to hurt him. This will happen to all enemies of the Lord in the end.

In verses 2 and 3, there are references regarding the enemies being turned back. God’s people are always moving forward, always advancing.

Verse 3 cites people who “say, Aha, aha.” We all have cynics and sarcastic critics in our lives, and David did as well. David determined to trust what God said, not what critics said.

Remember that the enemies will not last, but our God will. They are going backward while you go forward.

We should continue to praise.

This is the message of verse 4. Sometimes, when we remember to pray in our desperation, to cry out to God in the middle of our trouble, we forget to go back and praise Him. Are you a joyful Christian?

Remember the command to “pray without ceasing” in I Thessalonians 5? It is bookended by two verses that tell us, “Rejoice evermore,” and “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Verse 4 ends with, “Let God be magnified.” Sometimes, God magnifies you, and it is easy to praise Him in those high moments. But there are other times when, as the psalmist, you are brought low. No matter where you find yourself, God is always on His throne, and we should continually lift Him up.

Perhaps God is most magnified when the enemies are coming against us. Maybe that spiritual battle is the very place where God is most glorified. He is exalted because others begin to see Christ in us.

I don’t know what you need to do today to remember things, whether getting out an old journal or writing something down to post on your mirror or refrigerator. Whatever it is, make a note of remembrance. Remember the goodness of God and your responsibility to Him — to pray, to trust Him with your enemies, and to keep on praising Him.

If you remember to do those things, I guarantee you will see God work. God needs no reminders because He never forgets anything except our sins, and He chooses to do that. But you and I must not forget Him.

May all God help us to remember.