This post continues an overview of many related concepts, ultimately connecting Noah's ark with the rest we find through an everlasting covenant with God.
Today we'll focus on "remember" -- a word we've discussed many times on the blog (see here and here for example).
The Hebrew context of the word "remember" is very interesting. It's a two-way street that goes far beyond merely recalling information -- it is about bringing a person to mind and then acting for their benefit. One scholar put it this way:
God's remembering has to do with his attention and intervention, whether in grace or judgment.1
As it relates to man remembering God, another scholar said this:
Thus, Hebrew זָכַר (#2349) when collocationally related to Yahweh carries a connotative meaning of encouragement (remembering past mercy) or of repentance (remembering past judgment). Indeed, the semantic domain of זָכַר is extensive, involving reflection, reasoning, meditating, submitting, committing.2
Thus, when God remembers us, He intervenes on our behalf, and when we (properly) remember Him, we act in accordance with His will for us.
"And God remembered..."
This Old Testament phrase delights me. It shows up in various contexts, but you can see in the passages below that God's remembering is always connected to His intervention.
- Noah (Genesis 8:1)
- Abraham (Genesis 19:29)
- Rachel (Genesis 30:22)
- Israel (Exodus 2:23-25)
- Hannah (1 Samuel 1:19)
- Ephraim (Jeremiah 31:20)
When God remembered Noah, He caused the flood to subside. He later covenanted with Noah and gave him a sign to remember the covenant. When He remembers Rachel and Hannah, He gives them each a son. Abraham receives protection for Lot. Ephraim will receive mercy. Each of these actions points our minds to the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the ultimate act associated with God "remembering" His people. For us, mercy comes in the form of deliverance from destruction by our brother, a Messiah willing to covenant with us.
"Remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men"
Many scriptures speak of our duty to remember God, both what He has done for the faithful in the past, what He does for us each day, and what He will yet do for us in the future. Moroni exhorts us to "remember" in four separate verses in the final chapter of the Book of Mormon. We are to remember His mercy to His children from Adam to the present day (v.3), that "every good gift cometh of Christ" (v. 18), that God is "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (v. 19), and finally he exhorts us to remember God's word, specifically the Book of Mormon by which we shall be judged (v. 27). This "remembering" is certainly coupled to action.
'Remember' and harmony in the creation
The balance between us remembering God and God remembering us bring about a harmony in the creation. This is righteousness, as will be discussed in the next post. The concept is beautifully illustrated in Psalm 105:
4 Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
5 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
...
38 Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.
39 He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
40 The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41 He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
43 And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:
44 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
45 That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the Lord. (Psalm 105)
1: Leslie C. Allen, "2349 זכר" NIDOTTE, 1:1100-1105
2: VanGemeren, W. (Ed.). (1997). New international dictionary of Old Testament theology & exegesis (Vol. 1, p. 148). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.