Right Remembering vs. Yearning for "The Good Old Days"
Since we moved to only the fifth home we have shared since we got married, the process of unpacking has brought many memories out of storage. Just the other evening, a phone call included the question, "Where did you get these photos?" I had emailed some, and I said, "Oh, they were in a box, and they will go back into a box."
Thirteen years ago, after a major move, I wrote several poems, including one called "Rememories," but they were pretty much all forward looking.
Why is this important?
Ecclesiastes 7:10 states, "Do not say, 'Why is it that the former days were better than these?' It is not from wisdom that you ask about this."
Reminiscing is one thing, but yearning for the "good old days" is something clearly forbidden by this verse.
What is the difference? Let's consider several of the Psalms. Let's also look at Lamentations 3:20-24.
In Psalms 42 and 43, the psalmist is distressed and yet encourages himself by remembering and anticipating in Psalm 42, verses 5 and 11. And again in Psalm 53, verse 5, we have this refrain, "Why are you in despair, O my soul, and why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God."
In Psalms 77 and 78, Asaph encourages first himself and then the nation to recall the deeds of the Lord, remember His wonders, and meditate on both His words and deeds--history experienced.
In Psalms 106 and 107, the nation is encouraged to remember God's deliverances, and Psalm 107 ends with this: "Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things, and consider the lovingkindnesses of the Lord."
In Lamentations 3:20-24, Jeremiah poignantly states, "Surely my soul remembers, and is bowed down within me. This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I have hope in Him.'"
We need to remember the goodness of the Lord when circumstances would drag us down and toward thinking about "the good old days."
Thirteen years ago, after a major move, I wrote several poems, including one called "Rememories," but they were pretty much all forward looking.
Why is this important?
Ecclesiastes 7:10 states, "Do not say, 'Why is it that the former days were better than these?' It is not from wisdom that you ask about this."
Reminiscing is one thing, but yearning for the "good old days" is something clearly forbidden by this verse.
What is the difference? Let's consider several of the Psalms. Let's also look at Lamentations 3:20-24.
In Psalms 42 and 43, the psalmist is distressed and yet encourages himself by remembering and anticipating in Psalm 42, verses 5 and 11. And again in Psalm 53, verse 5, we have this refrain, "Why are you in despair, O my soul, and why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God."
In Psalms 77 and 78, Asaph encourages first himself and then the nation to recall the deeds of the Lord, remember His wonders, and meditate on both His words and deeds--history experienced.
In Psalms 106 and 107, the nation is encouraged to remember God's deliverances, and Psalm 107 ends with this: "Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things, and consider the lovingkindnesses of the Lord."
In Lamentations 3:20-24, Jeremiah poignantly states, "Surely my soul remembers, and is bowed down within me. This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I have hope in Him.'"
We need to remember the goodness of the Lord when circumstances would drag us down and toward thinking about "the good old days."
posted by Ebeth | 11:54 AM
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