God’s Goodness and Faithfulness
The Sports section of newsfeeds has been running dry lately. There is pretty much nothing. Apparently ESPN has been televising baseball games from South Korea. There are no fans in the stands. The teams include the Kia Tigers and the LG Twins.
This morning in my feed I was directed to “Relive the Calgary Flames Stanley Cup Run”. Really? Clearly my newsfeed does not discriminate geographically. What Vancouver Canucks fan would want to relive the Calgary Flames winning the Stanley Cup in 1989? Yesterday was also one year to the day since Kawhi Leonard hit the four bounce game ending, buzzer beater Game 7 basket that moved Toronto past the Philadelphia 76’ers en route to their first NBA Championship.
Relive, Remember, Recall. It’s what sports in the time of pandemic has become.
But reliving something is not only about the past. We recall in order to anticipate the future.
When we are living through times unlike those that we have lived before, one of the things that we can gain, even in the midst of trouble, is a new ear, new perspective, a deeper understanding of ourselves and those who have come before. It is easy to take situations, circumstances, events and activities for granted. There will be no CNE in Toronto this year. If I am getting it right, the PNE has already been cancelled as well. You don’t probably care about the CNE except when you hear that the last time it was not held was during WWII.
In the Psalms there are multiple refrains of “remember”. Much of the remembering is to recall the blessings of God in life even in the midst of difficulty or loss. “Why are you cast down, O my soul?”. It’s a good question, one that many of us have asked, perhaps recently. When the question is asked in the Psalms it is often followed by an injunction to remember God’s goodness and to count upon his faithfulness. You can try the exercise. First the question to your soul about its state. Then the direction to your soul to recall God’s goodness. The intent is not to lament nostalgically about things that have been lost. Rather, it is to know that God’s faithfulness and blessing will endure.
It is a practice that is for the community as well as for individuals. Remember.
Psalm 103 - “Bless the Lord and forget not his benefits”
The remembering might even reach beyond our lifetimes. Psalm 136 is such a prayer. There, the people remember and recall God’s faithfulness in years centuries past. We recall not out of sentiment. We recall in order to remind ourselves of the character of God. He is good, even now. His love endures forever.
PSALM 136 (NRSV)
God’s Work in Creation and in History
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 O give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 who spread out the earth on the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 who struck Egypt through their firstborn,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed famous kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to his servant Israel,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 O give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
