Psalm 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Don’t Forget!
Do you ever forget things? I forget everything. I will look for a ballpoint pen for five minutes and realize I have it resting behind my ear. I will look for my glasses when I am wearing them. I am really, really good at not remembering. In contrast, God does not forget.
Verse 18 says, “For the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.” God does not forget, but we don’t remember. That is because problems nag at us, but blessings so often fall lightly on our heads. God doesn’t forget our troubles, and we should not forget His deliverance. What seems like a huge issue when I am between a rock and a hard place becomes a vague memory once God gives the deliverance for which I have been asking.
So what should we do? First, look back. Psalm 9:3 says, “When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence. For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou sattest in the throne judging right.” The previous couple of psalms were about David begging God for protection and deliverance from his enemies, and here he is looking back. God did exactly what David had asked. We easily forget what God has done, and we would be more than a little encouraged if we took a few moments to look back and thank God.
Second, look around. Usually this is not good advice, and the Bible talks about foolish people who compare themselves to others. I’m not suggesting that. What I am saying is that we all are more blessed than any of us know. Regardless of where you live, what you have, or what you have done, just take a look around. There are people all over this world who have neither Christ nor the joy that is available to you right now. You are blessed in ways that very few of us have ever considered.
Third, look up. Psalm 9:1 says, “I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvellous works.” Praise is showing Who God is and what God has done. Psalm 8:1 says, “O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who has set thy glory above the heavens.” God’s glory is above the heavens and I am spared of being sucked into a black hole of my own narrow interest when I look up and realize the ennobling and enabling presence of an Almighty God.