If memory has the capacity to heal us if we remember truthfully and remember in light of what God is doing in this world, then reminding God of our condition is a way both to discover who we are and what is going on. So, the psalmist, though he has already done this, reminds God of his condition:
\nHere are his words in 119:49-56: \u201cmy affliction\u201d and \u201cthe arrogant have cruelly mocked me\u201d and \u201cthe wicked who forsake Your teaching\u201d and \u201cwherever I may dwell\u201d and then this to top it off: \u201cthis has been my lot.\u201d
\nWe believe God is omniscient; so did the psalmist. That does not stop the psalmist from rehearsing his sad and distressing condition. He\u2019s in trouble; all around him folks hate him and oppose his commitment to Torah. He has told God this already. He tells God again.
\nLike the persistent widow of Luke 18 who \u201cbadgered God\u201d for justice \u2014 that\u2019s the image of the parable \u2014 so the psalmist reminds God of his condition and summons God to remember God\u2019s very promises and glory are at stake.
\nI like the tenacity, the courage, and the utter honesty of this psalmist. Sometimes I wish he\u2019d quit complaining, but I find the complaints express a heart intent on God\u2019s best.
\nWhat do you think of the whininess of the prayers of the Psalms?<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If memory has the capacity to heal us if we remember truthfully and remember in light of what God is doing in this world, then reminding God of our condition is a way both to discover who we are and what is going on. So, the psalmist, though he has already done this, reminds God […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1753],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-psalm-119"],"yoast_head":"\n