A Psalm of Remembrance

Enjoy Psalm of Remembrance, the first in a three part series by Noel Bondt. Neil makes a connection between this Psalm and Jesus.

Psalms 42 and 43

Thank you for joining us in our studies of Psalms 42 and 43. Part 1 The Psalm has three verses, each ending with the same chorus. Treating the Psalm as a song helps us better understand its message. Psalm 42 introduces the phrase “book two,” marking a shift in the text. Book Two of Psalms refers to Exodus. There are five sections in the Psalms and five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).

Deliverance From Slavery

Thus, Book Two corresponds to Exodus. What we could remember is that book two is about deliverance from slavery. They were in bondage to slavery, and now they’re heading into the wilderness for freedom. Their desire ultimately was to go into the wilderness to worship. Moses first approached Pharaoh with the idea of the Israelites going into the wilderness to worship Jehovah while they were still in bondage. Yet God had a greater plan: the journey would take them out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and eventually to the promised land.

The Sons of Korah

Book two, then, represents the movement from slavery toward deliverance. Following this, we encounter the mention of the sons of Korah. Their story originates in Exodus and the book of Numbers, where Korah’s rebellion unfolds. The men line up and rebel against Moses, but not all follow. Somesons of Korah do not join. They stand and watch as the earth swallows their father.

These sons are then the lineage who continue on and on and on till David. David then chooses some of his men, and among them are those from the lineage of Korah. They’re to be the choir masters in the temple, and they get to sing these songs. When we think of the sons of Korah, we can think of, again, the remembrance. The discussion of remembrance becomes especially relevant here. In chapter 42, verse 2, we read:

“My soul is cast down within me; therefore, I remember.”

When we reflect on the past during challenging times, we must remember what the Lord has already brought us through.

The Children of Israel Sang

Thus, when the children of Israel sang this song, they could recall their deliverance from slavery. When the sons of Korah sang these songs, they remembered the turmoil in their family’s history when their father was swallowed by the earth generations earlier.This connection made the songs more personal and meaningful.

Another key point to consider is David. We are not sure whether David composed the song or the Korathites themselves wrote it. Either way, it’s still a psalm within the psalm book of David. David himself went through a life of turmoil, from one hardship to another. Each time requires David to call on the LORD in His brokenness. You think of his soul grieving for Saul, his father-in-law, as David fled into the wilderness out of fear for his life. David had to deal with his sons and the tears and the struggles that he had with his son, Absalom.

So, with those reminders, we want to continue with our thoughts and consider how this psalm also reflects on our beloved Saviour, Jesus. He, too, had trials, struggles, and turmoil as he walked this earth. Jesus also got to watch the feasts and the festivals. We see that in the psalm in the first verse.

These things I remember, I pour out my soul, how I would go with the throng and lead them to the procession.

Jesus Going Up to Jerusalem

We think of Jesus as a young boy, going up to Jerusalem with his family three times a year to celebrate the festival. We could think of when he was 12 years old, he stayed in the temple, and his mom was worried and looked for him. But yet Jesus said he was doing his father’s work. And later on, we could think of Jesus during the week of feasts, when he came up in the throng, amid the olive branches, and shouted, “Hosanna, blessed is the name of the Lord.” We could think of all those things as Jesus himself lived out his ministry, and how this psalm relates directly to our beloved Saviour. He himself was placed upon a cross. He himself bore our sins.

Do you think this is a Psalm of Remembrance? In what way? We would to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.