God bless you and greetings in the name of Jesus Christ who can save to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25).
Psalms 19:16 declares, “I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” We don’t easily forget that which we delight in. “Delight is also a great study in Psalms 119. Like the Psalmist, we delight in God’s wonderful matchless Word. Nine times in Psalm 119 it records his delight in the Scriptures (Psalm 119:16,24,35,47,70,77,92,143,174). In verse 92 it says, “Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.” We can make it through any assault from our adversary when God’s Word is our delight. In Job 23:12 while Job was under such great distress and attack, he boldly declared, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Our love for God’s communication of Himself will bring delight to our souls, and keep us from perishing in our affliction also.
Our reverence and esteem for the Word of God demonstrates what we really treasure in life. We want a true and vital spiritual relationship with God, and therefore we want to continue to develop our love and appreciation for His communication of Himself in His Word. When we appreciate what God’s Word provides our resolve to remember is strengthened for as Psalm 119:93 says, “I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.” It’s God’s Word that gives us life. It provides the vitality strength and endurance it takes to live for Him.
It doesn’t matter what happens to us. Whatever we go through we still cleave to God and His Word. Like Psalms 119:61 says, “The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.” Similarly Psalms 119:109 says, “My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.” We can be in danger and the most precarious of positions, and our resolve to remember God’s Word will get us through.
There are things that ought to upset us. Like when people disregard or treat God’s Word with contempt and derision. Psalms 119:139 shows us that: “My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.” They may even belittle us, but as Psalms 119:141 says, “I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.” It doesn’t matter what the world thinks of us. Be we small and despise we still do not forget. Like the psalmist, regardless of our affliction we still resolve to not forget. Psalms 119:153: “Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.”
Our remembrance of the truth is even more reason for His deliverance. He will pursue and seek us out for the same reason. The very last verse of the Psalm leaves us with great comfort. It says, “Psalms 119:176: “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.”
When Hannah prayed in I Samuel 1:11 she asked God to, “look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid.” He didn’t and she gave birth to her son Samuel. God also promised His people that He would not forget them,
Isaiah 49:15:
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
People are likely to forget, but God is not. He will not forget us.
Psalms 44:17:
All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
There it is stated clearly again, whatever comes upon us we still never forget. This truth is also stated positively. We remember so that we can do what God asks.
Psalms 119:52:
I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.
Psalms 119:55:
I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.
I have awakened more than once in the middle of the night remembering something that I needed to do. Usually startled I get out of bed to go do it or, at least, write myself a note so I do it in the morning. Memory is usually more a direct function of the will. We choose not to forget, we decide to remember things that are important to us.
If it’s a phone number or email repeating it a dozen or two times normally allows me to remember it until I can find someplace to write it down. When it comes to Bible verses it generally takes that same repetition repeated consistently over a week or two before I can access it anytime and repeat it word perfect. The way to get things into our heart so they issue in our lives (Proverbs 4:23) is by using our mouths and saying them over and over again.
Deuteronomy 30:14:
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
We use our mouths to get the words into our heart. When they get to our hearts, we hold them fast by deliberate decisions of our will. Proverbs 4:4 instructs us to “let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.” This is one of the obvious reasons for scripture memorization. Once we have hidden God’s Word in our heart, we can remember it and do it.
The Hebrew word for “retain” means “to grasp, lay hold of, or hold fast.” As Charles Swindoll said in Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, “Scripture memory gives you a firm grasp of the Word — and allows the Word to get a firm grasp of you!” When God’s Word is in our heart it provides sure footing. We can more easily walk His Word when we know it.
Psalm 37:31:
The law of his [the righteous man’s] God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
Let’s get the Word in our heart so that we may do it. As Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Letting the Word light our way will make our footing sure and keep us from sliding off the path of God’s commandments.
I want to close with two final passages of scripture which capture my heart for you.
II Peter 1:12-15:
Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
I speak great peace unto you who love God’s Word so nothing shall offend you (Psalms 119:165).
Psalms 46:1-11:
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.