The Bible is very clear relative to teachings and issues that man is admonished to remember for their own benefit.
However, there are certain things that God’s people plead with Him not to remember. And just as it is a gift of God for man to be able to remember, it is a gift of God for Him not to remember certain things in the life of an individual, or nation.
David explains such phenomena.
“Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth…according to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O LORD.” Psalm 25:6-7
Initially David asks God to remember His attribute of mercy by not remembering David’s sins from his younger days. Then David pleads for God to remember him as His child created in God’s own image.
David remembered that all sins have deadly consequences and he could only be justified by God’s mercy.
The psalmist Asaph voiced a similar plea.
“Oh (LORD), do not remember former iniquities against us! Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us, for we have been brought very low (oppressed).” Psalm 79:8
Asaph also acknowledged that only God had the power and authority to not remember sins.
The prophet Isaiah confirmed that God could and would forgive and forget sins of His people for His own sake upon the sinner’s repentance.
“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted.” Isaiah 43:25-26
God’s forgiveness for His own sake relates to His immutable covenant with Abraham.
Approximately a century after Isaiah, Jeremiah also addressed God’s not remembering the sins of Israel.
Israel’s sins must be forgiven and forgotten, inasmuch as they would be major benefactors of the New Covenant.
“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD…No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them…For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
Jeremiah 31:33-34
Notice the ‘I will’ phrases in this passage. ‘…the covenant that I will make,’ ‘I will forgive their iniquity,’ and ‘their sin I will remember no more.’
What a mighty God we serve!
Let’s fast forward to the endless age following the millennial kingdom. There will be a new (renewed) heaven and earth, for the first heaven and the first earth will have passed away. Once again God will be present with His people throughout eternity.
Some of the best characteristics of the new heaven and earth include things that will not be.
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
Approximately 800 years before John wrote the above, Isaiah spoke of the new heaven and earth, and added a major detail.
Thus says the LORD:
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.” Isaiah 65:17
Therefore, not only will the curse and its affects be gone, there will be no remembrance of such former things.
New Jerusalem and the new heavens and earth will place redeemed man back in the very presence of God, just as it was in the Garden of Eden before the devil’s deceit and man’s disobedience.
While the world, including America, is intrigued with progressivism, and believes such is a viable agenda, the truth is that real success is found in reversion, i.e. going back to where it began.
Therefore, return, repent, redeem, renew, and restore hold the secrets for God’s plan for His chosen.
Along the way God will cause His people to remember certain things and in the end, He will not remember certain things.
Praise God!