Psalm 9: The LORD Will Remember

There are a couple of ways that people get to thinking that the LORD has a poor memory.

First, many people believe in a God who simply forgets about sin. One idea along this line is that God, for the sake of mercy, just forgets all the bad things, all the rejection of him, all the arrogant pride, all of the wasteful living, and all of the injustices that a person commits. Such a God of love values people so much and feels so sorry for them that he would never conjure up an old list of sins against them.

Another idea along this line is that God’s memory about sin can somehow be out-witted. In other words, some people seem to operate with the notion that somewhere down the line, if they ever have to stand before God and answer for their deeds, they will be able to reason around their sins: "But God I was really trying to accomplish this good end." "But God I didn’t know that you thought that was wrong." Who knows, maybe God will come around and say, "Really, my bad. We’ll just forget about that one."

Another idea along this line is that God is just not that powerful to remember all the individual sins of every person, much less to judge them. Such people may claim to believe in God, but the actual thing they believe in is not God at all. It is some whimpy, non-niscient being who can be ignored without consequence. If you were to ask such a person about the relationship between his actions and God, he would say, "Sure, I believe in God. So what?" Of course, such a statement is completely ridiculous, but for such people it balances the tension between the undeniable reality of a Creator and their indomitable resolve to live however they want. Consequently, they exalt themselves above God as though they were more than mere men.

Second, many wonder if God sometimes forgets about righteousness, and who I have particularly in mind here are the righteous. The fact is that godly men who earnestly seek the LORD and desire to please him with their lives can often struggle with feeling forgotten. This statement is especially true in oppressive environments. A persecuted believer is sometimes a struggling believer. He may wonder if God has really noticed his repentance, his dependence, his good works. He may wonder if any of his righteous longings ever truly registered with God: "Maybe God has forgotten about me."

Psalm 9 addresses both of these false notions about God’s memory.

First, notice the righteousness of the psalmist in contrast to the sinfulness of his enemies.

David’s righteous passions are evident from the first line: "I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart." In fact, the first two verses contain four statements of his personal resolve to magnify the LORD. Then in verse 4, he refers to his cause as, literally, "righteous." In verse 10, he identifies with those he describes when he says to the LORD, "Those who know your name will trust in you." In verse 11, he gives the righteous exhortations to "sing praises to the LORD" and to "proclaim among the nations what he has done."

However, David is in conflict with "wicked" men. In verse 3 and 6, David just flat calls them his "enemies." In verse 9, he is "oppressed" and in "trouble" by these men. In verse 13, he considers himself persecuted unjustly. In verse 15, he refers to the "pit they have dug" and the "net they have hidden." Finally, in verse 18, David is "needy" and "afflicted."

This psalm from beginning to end shows a contrast between sin and righteousness. The two are in conflict, and the side of sin is the aggressor. The wicked have forgotten God (v. 17) and have targeted his people, but notice that David does not give even a hint of discouragement in this entire psalm. The attitude throughout is triumphant. Why?

He remembers that God remembers.

David knows that God will not forget about the wickedness of his foes. Though the wicked have forgotten God, God has not forgotten them. They will be judged in due time. In fact, David reveals an essential aspect to godly comfort in times of oppression: Godly comfort trusts in a day of vengeance upon God’s enemies. In verse 12, David puts it this way: "He who avenges blood remembers." In other words, "The LORD does not forget about sin." He is keeping track.

Revelation 20:12 confirms this truth in its description of the day of judgment: "The dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds." Now of course, God does not need record books, but in case anyone was wondering, he has them and is going to use them. And in psalm 9, David even longs for this day to come. He says at the end, "Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence. Strike them with terror, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men."

David also knows that God will not forget about the righteousness of his servants. Several times in this psalm he refers to the LORD’s memory of his righteous ones. Consider the following statements: "You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you" (v. 10). "He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted" (v. 12). "But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish" (v. 18). In these statements, David reveals that he is triumphant because he knows the LORD will not forget the righteousness of his servants. In the end, God will set everything aright.

Now, if you are a thinking Christian, you might be sitting there saying, "What is all this appealing to personal righteousness about? The Bible teaches that ‘there is noone righteous, not even one’ (Rom. 3:10). Isn’t it Christ’s righteousness that should be our appeal?" And of course the answer is "Yes!" But do not forget that his righteousness becomes our righteousness when we unite with him. It is imputed or reckoned to us (Rom. 4).

Consider Hebrews 6:10: "For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints." Did you catch that? The author of Hebrews appeals to God’s memory concerning his reader’s works. He is saying, "Don’t give into discouragement because God will remember your righteousness."

Now, does the author of Hebrews believe that a man is saved by good works and not Christ’s righteousness? No way! Hebrews 10:19: "We have confidence to enter to holy place by the blood of Jesus." Then what is he saying in 6:10? He is saying that the work of Christ in them has produced real, living righteousness that God has really noticed. Their deeds of faith done in the power of the Spirit are truly righteous, and God does not forget the truly righteous.

And he will not forget you, righteous Christian. So be encouraged. Sing with David, "I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."

Soli deo gloria,
Glenn