I will not forget
“I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands”
(Isaiah 49:15-16).
The world is remembering the Duke of Edinburgh’s life. He died on Friday at the age of 99. It is good to look back on the life of a man who devoted himself to supporting his wife, the Queen, for an incredible length of time. It was a role he fulfilled so well as he travelled around the world. People will remember him from television and newspaper reports. Others will have personal memories of him. But royalty always maintains a dignified distance in all its interactions with the public. The vast majority of people are expressing appreciation for a man they only saw from afar off.
Our remembrance of the Lord is not confined to a distant moment in history or an annual Day of Atonement or Passover feast. The Lord wants to be close to His people – to be amongst them. God wanted to be close to our first parents in the Garden of Eden. God instructed Moses to build a Tabernacle so that He could dwell with His people. God manifested His presence in so many remarkable ways and revealed Himself to the hearts of His people. But the day came when He entered the world. Mary held Jesus, and so did Simeon. Joseph cared for Him. John baptised Him. The disciples heard, saw, looked upon, and handled the Saviour. Men spat upon Him, scourged Him and crucified Him. Joseph took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. Thomas was invited to put his hand into His wounds. Jesus cooked breakfast on the seashore for His disciples—this is our Saviour whose parting words were, “Lo, I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).
We remember the journey of grace that brought the Lord of Glory to where we were. Now, in Glory, the Saviour wants us to know His nearness. As our Great High Priest He is still touched with the feelings of our infirmities. And, as the Good Shepherd, He delights to gather us around Himself to remind us of His life given and His blood shed. He is not concerned that we gather in our twos or threes or our two or three thousand. His interest is in our presence and the response of redeemed hearts.
Memories fade, and with age we can struggle to recall things we treasure. But sometimes we forget because our hearts grow cold. The Lord rebuked the Ephesians because they had lost their first love. It was not that they ceased to love the Lord but the joy and willing response which marked their first love had ceased. The Lord wants us to recall and respond to His love for us and the glory of His Person. What stimulates such a response is understanding that we never fade from the Lord’s memory. He never forgets us. Our names are engraved upon His shoulders, over his heart (Exodus 28:12,29), and on the palms of His hands:
“I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands”
Let us come this morning with full hearts to remember our Saviour and, in the liberty and power of the Holy Spirit, to speak to the Father of the glories of His Son. And may His love for us fill our hearts and motivate our lives as we enter a new week.
