Subscription Lists

Today's Little Lift

    by Jim Bullington

The Forgettery (Hosea 8:14)
Date Posted: August 4, 2020

During the Watergate Investigations about three or four decades ago, Sam Ervin, the late Senator from North Carolina, was heard to say, “It sometimes is better to have a good forgettery than a good memory.” His remarks came on the heels of repeated memory failures on the part of then-President Nixon’s staff to remember critical details related to the Watergate incident. While a good forgettery may be a good thing to have in some circumstances, most of the time it is not a blessing, but a curse! Our devotional today will address the human forgettery and God our Creator.

Hosea the prophet wrote, “For the sacrifices of My offerings they sacrifice flesh and eat it, But the LORD does not accept them. Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins. They shall return to Egypt. For Israel has forgotten his Maker, And has built temples; Judah also has multiplied fortified cities; But I will send fire upon his cities, And it shall devour his palaces.” (Hosea 8.13-14). In somewhat of a play on words, it is ironic that Israel had forgotten God, but God would not forget their sins and iniquities.

In yet another passage, Hosea penned, “I am the LORD your God Ever since the land of Egypt, And you shall know no God but Me; For there is no Savior besides Me. I knew you in the wilderness, In the land of great drought. When they had pasture, they were filled; They were filled and their heart was exalted; Therefore they forgot Me.” (Hosea 13.4-6).

Jeremiah eloquently spoke of such matters in this way: “‘Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me,’ says the LORD. ‘In vain I have chastened your children; They received no correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion. O generation, see the word of the LORD! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of darkness? Why do My people say, “We are lords; We will come no more to You”? Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.’”(Jeremiah 2.29-32).

Jeremiah spoke yet again: “Will a man leave the snow water of Lebanon, Which comes from the rock of the field? Will the cold flowing waters be forsaken for strange waters? Because My people have forgotten Me, They have burned incense to worthless idols. And they have caused themselves to stumble in their ways, From the ancient paths, To walk in pathways and not on a highway, To make their land desolate and a perpetual hissing; Everyone who passes by it will be astonished And shake his head. I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back and not the face In the day of their calamity.” (Jeremiah 18.14-17).

Lest one get the wrong idea, the God forgettery worked equally well for the Gentiles as for the Jews. Paul spoke of the Gentile nations and the fact that “they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” Further he said, “God gave them [the Gentiles] over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.” (Romans 1.28). In their case, it is obvious that their failure to remember God was a failure desgned to their own liking!

While it is true that man can choose to forget God, it is also true that God will not forget man! Sins that are forgiven are cast into God’s sea of forgiveness never to be remembered again, but people who choose to forget God, choose to forget the only hope they have of forgiveness and eternal life. Solomon gave great advice when he said, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come…” (Ecclesiastes 12.1).

Questions:

1. To what degree can we control what we remember and what we forget?

2. Had Israel forgotten God, or were they just acting as though they had forgotten?

3. Why did the Gentiles of Romans 1 not like to retain God in their knowledge? Did their failure to do so change the reality of God or their sins?

4. In what arenas has humanity forgotten God in our culture? Has God forgotten man? How will He reward those who forget Him?

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

Your Father Knows What You Need Mat. 6:8

Read Article »
Biography Information:
Jim Bullington - A Christian writer whose insight into the scriptures is reflected in practical application lessons in every article. The reader will find that the Bible speaks directly to him/her through these articles. God is always exalted and His word is treated with the utmost respect in this column.
Got Something to Share?
LiveAsIf.org is always looking for new writers. Whether it is a daily devotional or a weekly article, if you desire to encourage others to know Him better, then signup to become a contributor.