I Am Not Forgotten - He Knows My Name! - 1 Chronicles 1-9
To try do a 3 minute devotional from 9 chapters In 1 Chronicles must seem very ambitious. But that’s what I’m going to do this evening. What is more daunting is that these are 9 chapters of genealogies, lists and lists of otherwise forgotten names.
They don’t really affect much of what we believe in our day-to-day Christian life. Or do they? Many of those listed are never mentioned again. They just pass through the pages of the Bible in those 9 chapters and then they are gone - like a fleeting dream. Most of the tribes have even disappeared. Look among Jews of today, look for the tribes of Simeon and Reuben and the others – they have gone forever. But they are listed here in 1 Chr 1-9. They are not forgotten by GOD. He knows their name.
We have a song in our repertoire – “I am not forgotten, He knows my name”. I don’t know what inspired Israel Houghton to write that song. But the words are wonderful - if we spend a moment thinking about them. They are important for us spiritually, socially and psychologically and - dare I add, even theologically. And these are all linked! I am not forgotten – He knows my name.
It’s not just in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, according to Philippians ch4, our names are written in the book of life. I am not forgotten – He knows my name.
Even more remarkably, in Revelation it says twice that the believers’ names are not only written in the Book of Life but they have been written there since before the foundation of the world. Think about that. I am not forgotten – He knows my name. John the author of Revelation is telling that to people who were in great anguish, and suffering under huge pressure, tempted to walk away from Christianity it was getting too hard, they were tempted to pack it all in.
Not just in the song, but every verse of our Christian life should have this chorus. In Christ I am not forgotten – He knows my name. When we get up in the morning I am not forgotten – He knows my name … as we do the most humble of tasks, as we try to serve God – I am not forgotten – He knows my name … Even in the darkest hour – I am not forgotten – He knows my name … From the beginning to the end of our life journey with God we can genuinely remind ourselves – I am not forgotten – He knows my name.
It is easy to believe God remembers you when things are going well and there is material success, when every prayer is seemingly answered immediately, but in those darker places, that place of personal failure and disappointment, the chorus still remains, I am not forgotten – He knows my name.
The Lord Jesus knew the name of Lazarus: lonely, penniless, starving, despised and sick at the Rich man’s gate, just one more among many beggars I’m sure – He was not forgotten – Jesus knew Lazarus’ name. The rich man, the big dude in the hood, his name is never mentioned in that parable. Jesus didn’t know his name. But Lazarus’ name was not forgotten. If you are in a dark place today, take comfort dear brothers and sisters, take comfort from those 9 boring chapters of 1 Chr, they are there in our Bibles for a reason, take comfort from those difficult portions of Revelation. You are not forgotten – the Lord knows your name.