I remembered Thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself.
A blessed field lot memory
The Divine Word may be looked upon here--
I. As a field for memory.
1. A refreshing field. What flowers bloom, what fruit clusters, what salubrious air breathes here.
2. A large field. It goes back through eternity; it begins with the creation, it embraces the human race, it runs on through centuries into the interminable future.
3. An imperishable field.
II. As a source of comfort.
1. By the presentation of examples. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Job, Daniel, Paul, etc.; and more,--Christ, the model of all virtue, enduring affliction, overwhelming and undeserved.
2. By the revelation of principles. It teaches that the afflictions of good men are not penal but disciplinary, not sent in anger, but in fatherly love (2 Corinthians 4:17). (Homilist.)
The Divinely memorable
I. The memorable in the Divine conduct to man. “Thy judgments.” Whatever the Almighty does is memorable, and ought to be remembered. But there are some things in His conduct to man most strikingly memorable.
1. Some things with man generally. The deluge, the confusion of tongues, the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah, the exodus of the Jews, the destruction of Jerusalem, etc.
2. Some things with man individually. Every man is conscious of some memorable event in his life; especially,--if he is a Christian,--his conviction, conversion, etc.
II. The memorable in the Divine conduct remembered by man. “I remembered.” Sad to say, the memorable things in the Divine conduct to man are not generally remembered.
1. This is unnatural. How unnatural it is for a child to forget interpositions in the conduct of the loving father. But how much more unnatural go forget the wondrous works of God in His dealings with our race and with ourselves.
2. This is ungrateful. Ought we not to remember the self-sacrificing deeds of our benefactors? This indeed we generally do, we rear monuments to those whom we consider to be philanthropists. But how ungrateful to forget the wonderful mercies of God.
3. This is pernicious. Forgetfulness of God leads to moral deadness, gross carnality, black atheism.
III. The remembrance of the memorable in the Divine dispensation blest to man. “And have comforted myself.” The memory of what God in past times has done for His people is adapted to administer comfort under the trials of life.
1. He has always granted strength according to need (Isaiah 25:4).
2. He has always fulfilled His promises. (Holimist.)