Basic HTML Version
Again, “to remember” means more than “to recall”; it means “to retain in thought” so as
to tell someone who can take action (cf. Ps. 20:7).
#
may have more specific
connotations in certain circumstances: “Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, … which swear
by the name of the Lord, … and make mention of the God of Israel …” (Isa. 48:1). The
NASB
and the
NIV
translate the last clause “and invoke the God of Israel”; and the
RSV
has
“confess.” All point to the mention of God’s name in worship. David appointed “Levites
as ministers before the ark of the Lord, to invoke … the Lord …” (1 Chron. 16:4,
RSV
;
NASB
, “to celebrate”;
NIV
, “to make petition”).
The covenant commanded Israel to “remember this day, in which ye came out from
Egypt …” (Exod. 13:3); to “remember the sabbath day …” (Exod. 20:8); to “remember
that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out
thence through a mighty hand …” (Deut. 5:15 and often); and to “remember his
marvelous works …” (Ps. 105:5; cf. 1 Chron. 16:15). But “the children of Israel
remembered not the Lord their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their
enemies …” (Judg. 8:34; cf. Ps. 78:42).
B. Nouns.
(
'
, 2143), or
(
'
, 2143), “remembrance; memorial.” Of His covenant
name,
'BCB
(“Lord”), God said: “… This is my memorial unto all generations” (Exod.
3:15; cf. Ps. 30:4; 135:13). The name would recall His acts of covenant fulfillment.
Moses was told to write an account of the war with Amalek “for a memorial [
]
in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance
[
or
] of Amalek from under heaven” (Exod. 17:14).
The noun
has similar meanings. God gave the bronze plates covering the
altar (Num. 16:40) and the heap of stones at the Jordan (Josh. 4:7, 20-24) as perpetual
“memorials” for the sons of Israel. The names of the twelve tribes of Israel were
engraved on two stones that were attached to the ephod as “stones of memorial unto the
children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord …” (Exod. 28:12; cf.
v. 29). When Israel went into battle, and when they offered sacrifice, they were to blow
trumpets “that they may be to you for a memorial before your God” (Num. 10:9-10).
The noun
means “memorial offering” and it occurs primarily in Leviticus.
“Memorials” were directed toward God. A “memorial” portion of each meal offering was
burnt on the altar (Lev. 2:2, 9, 16), in other words a small portion in place of the whole
amount.
The Septuagint translates these words by several derivatives from one root,
, by which the idea comes into the New Testament. Zechariah praised the Lord
God that He had “raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David …
and to remember his holy covenant …” (Luke 1:69-73). Our need for a reminder is met in
“This do in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:24-25).
REMNANT
A. Nouns.
(
"
, 7611), “rest; remnant; residue.” The idea of the “remnant” plays a
prominent part in the divine economy of salvation throughout the Old Testament. The