Remember and Remember Not

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

“Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.” (Ps. 25:6, 7)

Who could rightfully question the antiquity of the tender mercies of our God? Have we not read the Scripture: “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”? (Eph. 1:4) If this would be the only verse it would be enough! Is not every word of God settled in the heaven? Are there not many more that cry out the same witness? The words “ever of old” carry the idea of always having been, or eternal. The tender mercies and the lovingkindnesses of God are as eternal as He is. If it were not so, what firm foundation would we have to stand upon? Where could we set anchor? Would not our souls be at the mercy of the tempest?

As sure as our heavenly Father is full with mercies and kindnesses we stand before His judgment throne guilty of the depravity of sin and stark rebellion against all that is good and holy. It is easy to think of oneself as good and clean when all around are in the same pit of stench, but in the company of the holy righteousness of the heaven in Jesus Christ, we are discovered to be no more than rot fit only for the maggots. Even in the state of salvation our flesh often fashions us to act like stubborn donkeys. Sin is as much of a companion as our flesh. Who would prefer God to remember their sins that shame us in the very thought of them?

The psalmist pleads for the Father not to remember our sins, but that He might in harmony with His eternal mercy behold us in a manner consistent with the mercy He gifted “before the foundation of the world” through the sacrificial blood of the Lamb to be slain in the fullness of time. This he asks not solely for the harmony of mercy but because of His “goodness’ sake.” Why? “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:7) God has sent forth His mercies and kindnesses in eternity past with the force of a tsunami to flood the depths of our souls with the blood of the Christ that He would not remember our sins for the purpose of His glory.