Remember The Former Things
Notes
Transcript
We are in this series as we consider where Scripture commands the people of God to Remember
We have seen that God wants us to remember Him and the dangers of not obeying that command
We are commanded to Remember Lot’s wife, to let go of attachments to the past hinder our moving into the future with God.
Again in the Old Testament the people of God are commanded to Remember the former things long past.
Chair Bible pg. 486
8 “Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you wrongdoers.
9 “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My plan will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
Are you ready for the message God has for us today?
Cool let’s dig in!
Former things Long Past
Former things Long Past
We see in this passage of Isaiah that the people of God are commanded to remember things long past.
What things?
In my readings last week I read this - Deuteronomy 4:9-14
9 “Only be careful for yourself and watch over your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.
10 Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may have them hear My words so that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’
11 You came forward and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire to the heart of the heavens: darkness, cloud, and thick gloom.
12 Then the Lord spoke to you from the midst of the fire; you heard the sound of words, but you saw no form—there was only a voice.
13 So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.
14 The Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, so that you would perform them in the land where you are going over to take possession of it.
The remembrance of these things was to be handed down, and not forgotten.
To remember and know the movements of God among the people
How he provided and protected them.
how he gave them the promised land - Deuteronomy 32:7-9
7 “Remember the days of old, Consider the years of all generations. Ask your father and he will inform you, Your elders, and they will tell you.
8 “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, When He separated the sons of mankind, He set the boundaries of the peoples According to the number of the sons of Israel.
9 “For the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance.
The remembrance that God did this once He would do again, He was their God and they were His people.
Even in exile they could look back and remember the things long past and see how God had protected them
Learning they are in exile because of their actions not God’s failure.
However, they forgot
However, they forgot
We can see in the pages of the Old Testament that the people often forgot the former things perhaps because they were long past.
Perhaps they thought God would not provide and protect as He once did.
The Psalms tells us their mistake -
19 They made a calf in Horeb, And worshiped a cast metal image.
20 So they exchanged their glory For the image of an ox that eats grass.
21 They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt,
22 Wonders in the land of Ham, And awesome things by the Red Sea.
Even in captivity the forgot to remember
46 How long, Lord? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember what my lifespan is; For what futility You have created all the sons of mankind!
48 What man can live and not see death? Can he save his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah
49 Where are Your former acts of favor, Lord, Which You swore to David in Your faithfulness?
50 Remember, Lord, the taunt against Your servants; How I carry in my heart the taunts of all the many peoples,
51 With which Your enemies have taunted, Lord, With which they have taunted the footsteps of Your anointed.
Isn’t it interesting with all that God had done for them and would be willing to do for them they forgot.
The lesson was how God loves those who are His people!
The Principle Applies to Us
The Principle Applies to Us
The principle of remembering the things long past applies to us.
When we remember the former things, by reading the Old Testament, we learn the ways in which God moved and acted for those who were His people.
We gain so much insight into our relationship with God.
The Children of Israel struggled with God’s actions at times.
Don’t we?
Why doesn’t he answer my prayer?
Why doesn’t he answer my prayer the way I want?
Why is the answer no, doesn’t He know how good it is for me?
When He calls, not supposed to be preacher! - To be a preacher, the preaching my first sermon. DEVELOP
Remember God Keeps His Word!
Remember God Keeps His Word!
As we look back to the former things we learn that we serve a God who keeps His word!
History bears witness to this fact! This Biblical truth!
Here is a simple example - Jeremiah 29:10-12
10 “For this is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.
11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
Cyrus was the King returned God’s people to their home, both the Bible and History bear witness to this reality!
It means we can trust what God tells us in the New Testament - Hebrews 10:14-17
14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,
16 “This is the covenant which I will make with them After those days, declares the Lord: I will put My laws upon their hearts, And write them on their mind,” He then says,
17 “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will no longer remember.”
Not only does God promise, but the Spirit testifies!
Then there is the words of Paul - 2 Corinthians 6:16-18
2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,
God cannot lie!
We can trust Him, because as we remember the former things we learn God keeps His word.
In human relationships how many times have we been let down by those who lied to us?
As a kid when I was like 10 or 11 I lied to my parents a lot. I don’t remember the lies, but I remember the lesson the taught me!
Wow was that a hard lesson!
It was a while before they trusted me again.
This is not so with God - Isaiah 55:11-12
11 So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.
12 “For you will go out with joy And be led in peace; The mountains and the hills will break into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
When God gives His word it will accomplish what He says!
Conclusion:
It is just so important for us to study and remember the former things long past!
You know God never changes!
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.
17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
That is the lesson of Remembering the Former things long past!
Let us pray together!