Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
He is the LORD our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
He remembers his covenant forever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
“To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion you will inherit.”
When they were but few in number,
few indeed, and strangers in it,
they wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
He allowed no one to oppress them;
for their sake he rebuked kings:
“Do not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets no harm.”
He called down famine on the land
and destroyed all their supplies of food;
and he sent a man before them—
Joseph, sold as a slave.
They bruised his feet with shackles,
his neck was put in irons,
till what he foretold came to pass,
till the word of the LORD proved him true.
The king sent and released him,
the ruler of peoples set him free.
He made him master of his household,
ruler over all he possessed,
to instruct his princes as he pleased
and teach his elders wisdom.
Then Israel entered Egypt;
Jacob resided as a foreigner in the land of Ham.
The LORD made his people very fruitful;
he made them too numerous for their foes,
whose hearts he turned to hate his people,
to conspire against his servants.
He sent Moses his servant,
and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
They performed his signs among them,
his wonders in the land of Ham.
He sent darkness and made the land dark—
for had they not rebelled against his words?
He turned their waters into blood,
causing their fish to die.
Their land teemed with frogs,
which went up into the bedrooms of their rulers.
He spoke, and there came swarms of flies,
and gnats throughout their country.
He turned their rain into hail,
with lightning throughout their land;
he struck down their vines and fig trees
and shattered the trees of their country.
He spoke, and the locusts came,
grasshoppers without number;
they ate up every green thing in their land,
ate up the produce of their soil.
Then he struck down all the firstborn in their land,
the firstfruits of all their manhood.
He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold,
and from among their tribes no one faltered.
Egypt was glad when they left,
because dread of Israel had fallen on them.
He spread out a cloud as a covering,
and a fire to give light at night.
They asked, and he brought them quail;
he fed them well with the bread of heaven.
He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
it flowed like a river in the desert.
For he remembered his holy promise
given to his servant Abraham.
He brought out his people with rejoicing,
his chosen ones with shouts of joy;
he gave them the lands of the nations,
and they fell heir to what others had toiled for—
that they might keep his precepts
and observe his laws.
Praise the LORD.

This psalm recounts the history of Israel from Abraham to the Exodus, emphasizing God's faithfulness and intervention on behalf of his people. It's a psalm that celebrates the stories of old, reminding the Israelites of their roots and God's enduring love.

This act of remembering is not a passive recollection but an active engagement with the past. It's about recounting stories, singing of God's deeds, and ensuring that the next generation knows of his wonders. In a way, the psalmist is emphasizing the power of collective memory, urging the community to keep their history alive.

We, too, need to remember the past. By remembering, we learn from our mistakes, celebrate our achievements, and honor those who came before us. It also gives us direction. In a world that's always moving forward, taking a moment to look back helps us understand where we've been and guides us toward where we're going.

The theme of remembrance is central to the Christian tradition. Perhaps the most poignant moment is during the Last Supper when Jesus says, "Do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19). Just as the Israelites were called to remember God's deeds, we are called to remember Jesus' sacrifice.

Remembering Jesus' sacrifice reminds us of God's great love for us. It also should remind us of who we are in Christ: people who are redeemed, saved, forgiven, restored, blessed, healed, free, and so much more. I wrote a song declaring these truths. Singing this from time to time will help us remember what Jesus won for us by his death and resurrection because we often seem to forget. Let’s not forget, but remember.

God bless you.

The Blessed Lamb of God

I’m redeemed, I am saved, I’m restored and I’m forgiven
That’s because I believe in my Lord
That he came and he died for my sins and my failures
‘Cause he loves me, the Blessed Lamb of God

I am washed, I am cleansed, I’m pure and I’m holy
That’s because I believe in my Lord
That he came and he died for my sins and my failures
‘Cause he loves me, the Blessed Lamb of God

I am blessed, I’m healed, in spirit, heart, mind and body
That’s because I believe in my Lord
That he came and he died for my sins and my failures
‘Cause he loves me, the Blessed Lamb of God

I’m free, I’m strong, I’m totally victorious
That’s because I believe in my Lord
That he came and he died for my sins and my failures
‘Cause he loves me, the Blessed Lamb of God

I’m a friend of my God and I’m a friend of Jesus
That’s because I believe in his love
That he came and he died for my sins and my failures
‘Cause he loves me, the Blessed Lamb of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Alleluia, alleluia, to the Lord
For he came and he died for my sins and my failures
‘Cause he loves me, the Blessed Lamb of God

His name is Jesus, His name is Jesus, his name is Jesus
He’s my Lord
His name is Jesus, His name is Jesus,
Oh Lord, my God
For he came and he died for my sins and my failures
‘Cause he loves me, the Blessed Lamb of God

© Aneel Aranha