We are all prone to forgetting things once in a while. When we miss an appointment, we might say, ″It slipped my mind." Our human memories are fallible, prone to falter, especially as our brains age. In comparison, the Bible describes God's memory as being so much more substantial than mere mental activity. It involves an act of His will. When God remembers, He acts.

Psalm 74 expresses the psalmist's despair at the terrible suffering that has come upon Israel and God's apparent unwillingness to do anything about it. The references to the ruins of Mount Zion and the destruction of God's sanctuary (vv. 2-3) suggest that he's referring to the fall of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians in 586 B.C.

The psalm begins with a request for God to remember (v. 2), in particular, to remember who is suffering. This isn't just any nation. This is Israel, the sheep of God's pasture (v. 1). God has redeemed them and chosen to dwell in their midst. Asaph doesn't think that God has mentally forgotten who His chosen people are; he is saying in essence, ″Since You're our shepherd, do something!″

In verses 4-8, he describes in graphic detail the wanton destruction by their enemies who ″smashed″, ″burnt″, and ″defiled″ the Holy City. The psalmist did not question God on whether or not Israel deserved this suffering. If he's referring to the destruction of Jerusalem, then we know it was a just judgment on Israel for centuries of sin and idolatry, which God has forewarned numerously through prophets like Jeremiah. The psalmist's question ″how long?″ (v. 10) reflects his frustration that God is silent (v. 9) about when their suffering will end.

At this point, it seems that the psalmist has lost his faith in God. But he hasn't. In verses 12-17, he reminds himself and fellow Israelites of God's mighty power, as seen in His creation of the world. If God made everything–the sea and land, summer and winter–then He has the power to rescue His people.

The psalm ends with seven pleas for God to act: ″remember . . . do not hand over . . . do not forget . . . have regard for . . . do not let . . . rise up . . . do not ignore″ (vv. 18-23). The first plea, again, is ″remember″ (v. 18, see also v. 22), in particular, for God to remember the covenant He made with Abraham (v. 20; see Genesis 12:1-3). The psalmist is essentially pleading with God, ″You promised to bless us and make us great, please act now.″

Sometimes, we, too, feel that powerful forces like the world, the flesh, and the devil are having the victory over us. Perhaps we despair. But God has promised to complete the good work He began in our lives (Philippians 1:6). If we ever think that we're fighting a losing battle alone, we can cry out to God: Remember me! Rise up and act.