Remember

Day 235, 05:48 • Published in United Kingdom United Kingdom • by William of Orange

Remember 1690, Remember the Battle of the Boyne, "Remember, remember the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot, I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot."

Remember the 1st July 1916 - The battle of the Somme in which around 5,500 Ulstermen made the supreme sacrifice, and we remember, of course, that there were others, from the other provinces of this island who laid down their lives as well. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice in 1918 which brought a close to the First World War - and again we remember the many members of our Institution who lost their lives in that War.

Yes, the word "Remember" comes readily to our lips. The word remember is also found frequently in the Bible and today I want to consider a number of instances where it does so.

First of all
in Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 7: "Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders and they will explain to you."

You see, a generation of young Israelites grew up who knew nothing about the days of slavery in Egypt, who knew nothing about the plagues, who knew nothing about the Passover, who knew nothing about the Crossing of the Red Sea and they had to be reminded of these great events and so they were told - "Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders and they will explain to you."

And so today we remember King William's victory at the Battle of the Boyne because there flowed from that and from the Williamite settlement the values of civil and religious liberty which we espouse.

Remembering the past also helps us to cope with the present. For example, the author of Psalm 77 was having a real struggle because he was going through hard times. It almost seemed as though God had forsaken him. "Has his unfailing love vanished for ever?" he cries - has God forgotten to be merciful?

He seems to plunge deeper and deeper into the pit of despair.

Is that not how many are feeling these days in which we live? Wicked men seem to be prospering.

Criminals get out of prison without serving their due sentence. Racketeering and drug trafficking is on the increase. Mafia type gangs control large sections of our cities.

But what did the Psalmist do at such a time? He remembered the deeds of the Lord - and so should we.

The God who delivered Israel from the slavery of Egypt and parted the waters of the Red Sea is with us. The God who saved Daniel in the Lions Den can deliver us too.

On the eve of the Battle of the Boyne King William, while engaged in his private devotions, read in Romans chapter 8 verse 31, "If God be for us who can be against us?" and this put iron into his soul for the battle ahead.

So all these Biblical and historical examples encourage us to draw inspiration from past events.

Remember:

His love in times past

Forbids me to think

He'll leave me at last

In trouble to sink.

Secondly
- In 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 8, Paul writes to young Timothy: "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's Word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory."

Here is a text that takes us to the very heart of the Gospel, and therefore to the heart of the faith.

Because all have sinned, all alike need a Saviour, and the only one who can save us from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin and ultimately from the very presence of sin is the Lord Jesus Christ. It's not the saints who save us, nor religion that saves us, nor good works that save us, but "grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone."

The badge of the County of Donegal shows a hand holding on to a cross - surely reminding us in the words of Augustus Toplady:

"Nothing in my hand I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling.

Naked, come to Thee for dress,

Helpless, look to Thee for grace,

Foul, I to the fountain fly,

Wash me, Saviour, or I die."

Thirdly
- Remembering the days of old, and remembering the Lord Jesus Christ and resting upon Him alone for salvation should automatically lead us to remember a number of other practical matters:

A) "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy."
(Exodus chapter 20 verse 😎. The first day of the week, the Christian Sabbath, should be set apart for the worship of God. It is good for the body - it is good for the soul. It is the 4th commandment and should therefore be obeyed.

b) "Remember those in prison, as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering." (Hebrews chapter 13 verse 3) Even today there are Christians in various parts of the world languishing in prison for the sake of the Gospel and we should remember them. In the new political dispensation that applies across this land we call upon others to respect our traditions and witness.

c) "Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord redeemed you" (Deuteronomy chapter 15 verse 15). The people of Israel escaped from Egypt in order to worship God.

The Battle of the Boyne was one part of a larger European picture. If you ever go to Geneva you will see there the "Reformation Wall" which gives you an overview of the Reformation cause throughout Europe.

And so, as we commemorate the 318th Anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, the word "Remember" has much to say to us: Remember the days of old. Remember Jesus Christ. Remember the Christian values that flow from saving faith in Him, and the civil and religious liberty which flow from the Reformation.