2 Samuel 14:11

Remembrance of God.

"Let the king remember the Lord thy God." This passage occurs in a singular bit of history, which illustrates, inter alia, the carefulness which even the most favoured and powerful of the subjects of an Eastern monarch must at times exercise in seeking to influence him; and, on the other hand, the accessibility of such a monarch to the meanest subject desirous of his interposition. Perhaps, however, this "wise woman" may have belonged to a class which, like prophets, could (or would) take special liberties with royal and other great persons. This woman showed herself "wise" in her management of the case which Joab had entrusted to her. It was after she had succeeded in making a favourable impression upon David, that, desirous of a more solemn and specific assurance, she addressed him in the words of the text. This appeal had the desired effect: the king declared with an oath that no harm should be done to her son, whom she had represented as in danger of death from having killed his brother. The exhortation is over suitable and seasonable.

I. THE REMEMBRANCE OF GOD WHICH SHOULD BE PRACTISED . It includes mindfulness of:

1 . His existence and perfections.

2 . His relation to the universe and to ourselves—Creator, Sustainer, Ruler, Redeemer, Father of spirits, etc.

3 . His revelations and commands.

4 . His goodness to us. What he has done, is doing, and has promised to do.

II. WHEN WE SHOULD REMEMBER HIM . When should we not? The remembrance should be:

1 . Habitual. "I have set the Lord always before me" ( Psalms 16:8 ); "Be ye mindful always of his covenant" ( 1 Chronicles 16:15 ).

2 . At stated times. Without special remembrances the habitual will not be maintained. Hence the value of the hours of devotion, private and public.

3 . At times of special need. When duty is hard, temptation urgent, trouble pressing.

III. WHO ARE REQUIRED TO REMEMBER HIM . All—kings as well as subjects. The higher men are raised above their fellow men, the more they need to keep in mind him who is higher than they, and who will call them to account. The greater the trust God has committed to any, and the more they are independent of others in discharging it, the more they need to look to God for help in discerning and practising what is right. In an unlimited, or only. partially limited, monarchy, the king has peculiar reason to keep the King of kings in mind, that he may be preserved from injustice, partiality, and oppression. But people of all classes are bound to remember God, and live as in his sight.

IV. WHY WE SHOULD CHERISH SUCH REMEMBRANCES .

1 . It is our duty . From our relation to God, and from his commandments. And it is no less absurd than impious to forget him "with whom we have to do" ( Hebrews 4:13 ) more than with any and all others.

2 . It is greatly for our profit. It will be productive of:

3 . It will save from the pangs of too late remembrances on earth or in hell. (See Proverbs 5:11-14 ; Luke 16:25 , "Son, remember.") Mindfulness of God is universal in the eternal world, for joy or sorrow.

V. THE NEED THERE IS TO REMIND MEN OF THIS DUTY . "Let the king remember," etc. Men are apt to forget God, even when the memory of him is most desirable and incumbent. Such forgetfulness may spring from:

1 . Negligence.

2 . The pressure of other thoughts. The worldly. The anxious and troubled. It is often a great kindness to remind troubled Christians of their God.

3 . Dislike of God. Unwillingness that he should interfere with life and action.

4 . Love of sin. The pleasure of sin, if not sin itself, would be impossible if God were thought of.

5 . Pride and self satisfaction ( Deuteronomy 8:10-19 ).

Finally:

1 . Remembrance of God, spontaneously and lovingly cherished, is a good evidence of sincere piety.

2 . The compatibility or incompatibility of it with any act or habit furnishes a safe guide when distinct precepts are wanting.— G.W.