Remembering God's Faithfulness: Our Identity in Worship

Psalm 105 invites us to become a people who remember. It is not just a history lesson, but a call to worship, to trace the hand of God through all generations and to respond in praise. The psalm begins with imperatives: give thanks, call on his name, make known his deeds, sing, and tell of his wondrous works. These are not just suggestions, but the very shape of worship for a covenant people. Worship is a public rehearsal of the mighty acts of God, and remembrance is at the center of our gathered life. When we come together, we do not invent meaning or make God present; we remember our meaning and seek the Lord who has always been faithful.

Our identity is rooted in God’s faithfulness, not our own worthiness. The psalm recounts how God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—not because they were worthy, but because he is faithful. Israel’s story is one of weakness, wandering, and vulnerability, yet God guarded and preserved them. Our own stories echo this: we are not here because we are strong, wise, or good, but because God has remembered us and kept his promises.

The psalm’s timeline of grace walks through the providence of God, showing that even the hardships—famines, slavery, wilderness—were not accidents, but moments where God was already at work, sending provision ahead, forming his people, and drawing near in tangible ways. The wilderness was a classroom, a place to learn dependence and trust. Our prayers, too, should trace the timeline of God’s grace in our lives, not skipping the hard parts, but seeing his hand in every season.

Remembrance is not optional; it is our identity, posture, and calling. To forget is not just poor spiritual hygiene—it is a form of covenant infidelity. Remembering leads to obedience, not to earn grace, but as a response to it. Yet, we know that like Israel, we often fail to remember and obey. The psalm ultimately points us to Christ, the one in whom the memory and mercy of God take on flesh. Jesus is the true prophet, priest, and king, the one who fulfills the covenant and makes obedience possible for us. In Christ, we are remembered, reformed, and sent as children of the covenant, called to live in the light of God’s faithfulness.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Remembrance is the heart of worship. When we gather, we are not simply recalling facts or stories, but entering into the living memory of God’s mighty acts. This act of remembering shapes our identity and forms us as a people who know who we are and to whom we belong. Our worship is a response to God’s ongoing faithfulness, not a means of making him present or relevant. [46:15]
• 2. Our identity is rooted in God’s choosing, not our achievement. Abraham and Jacob were called not because of their merit, but because God chose them and named them. This truth humbles us, stripping away pride and self-reliance, and calls us to rest in the security of being God’s chosen people, defined by his faithfulness rather than our own worthiness. [52:10]
• 3. God’s remembrance is active and deliberate. Unlike our forgetful and passive memory, God’s remembrance means action—he fulfills his promises, guards his people, and intervenes in history. Our survival and faith are not the result of our planning or strength, but of God’s unwavering commitment to his covenant. [54:46]
• 4. The timeline of grace includes both hardship and provision. God’s providence is not reactive; he is already at work before we even know our need. The wilderness seasons of our lives are not wasted—they are classrooms where we learn dependence, trust, and the nearness of God, who provides, guides, and forms us through every trial. [67:17]
• 5. Remembrance leads to obedience, but only Christ fulfills the covenant. The call to remember is a call to live in line with God’s acts, but we, like Israel, often fail. The good news is that Jesus Christ, the true prophet, priest, and king, has fulfilled the covenant on our behalf. In him, we are remembered, reformed, and empowered to walk in obedience as children of the promise. [74:48]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [39:03] - Introduction to Psalm 105
• [39:39] - Call to Praise and Remembrance
• [41:04] - God’s Covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
• [41:44] - Joseph: Providence in Suffering
• [42:23] - Moses, Aaron, and God’s Deliverance
• [43:39] - Provision in the Wilderness
• [44:17] - Joyful Deliverance and Inheritance
• [45:34] - Worship as Remembrance
• [48:53] - Remembering is Worship
• [52:10] - Identity Rooted in God’s Choosing
• [53:31] - God’s Faithfulness, Not Our Worthiness
• [57:56] - Personal Testimonies of God’s Remembrance
• [61:50] - The Timeline of Grace
• [67:17] - The Wilderness as a Classroom
• [70:01] - Remembrance as Covenant Responsibility
• [72:40] - Christ: The Fulfillment of the Covenant
• [76:16] - Living as Children of the Covenant
• [77:31] - Closing Prayer and Song

Bible Reading

Psalm 105 (ESV) — [Read the full Psalm together as a group.]

Observation Questions

1. What are the first actions or commands given in Psalm 105, and how do they set the tone for the rest of the psalm? ([39:39])
2. According to the psalm, why did God remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Was it because of their worthiness or something else? ([54:11])
3. What are some of the hardships and challenges mentioned in Psalm 105 that God’s people faced, and how did God respond in those situations? ([41:04])
4. How does the psalm describe the purpose of God’s acts of deliverance and provision for His people? ([01:10:01])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says, “Worship is a public rehearsal of the mighty acts of God, and remembrance is at the center of our gathered life.” Why is remembering God’s works so central to worship, according to the psalm and the sermon? ([46:15])
2. The psalm recounts Israel’s story as one of “weakness, wandering, and vulnerability,” yet God guards and preserves them. What does this reveal about the nature of God’s faithfulness compared to human strength or achievement? ([55:24])
3. The sermon calls the wilderness a “classroom” for learning dependence and trust. How might seasons of hardship or “wilderness” in our own lives serve a similar purpose? ([01:07:17])
4. The psalm ends with a call to obedience, but the sermon points out that only Christ fulfills the covenant. How does Jesus’ role as the true prophet, priest, and king change the way we understand our own obedience and identity? ([01:14:48])

Application Questions

1. The psalm begins with commands to give thanks, call on God’s name, and make known His deeds. Which of these actions comes most naturally to you, and which is most challenging? What is one step you could take this week to grow in the area that is hardest for you? ([39:39])
2. The sermon says, “Our identity is rooted in God’s faithfulness, not our own worthiness.” Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to base your value on your achievements or failures rather than God’s faithfulness? How can you remind yourself of your true identity this week? ([52:10])
3. Think back on your own “timeline of grace.” Can you identify a season of hardship where, looking back, you now see God’s provision or presence? How might sharing this story encourage someone else in the group? ([01:08:42])
4. The sermon warns that “to forget is not just poor spiritual hygiene—it is a form of covenant infidelity.” What are some practical ways you can build habits of remembrance into your daily or weekly routine? ([01:10:39])
5. The psalm and sermon both emphasize that remembering leads to obedience, not to earn grace, but as a response to it. Is there an area of obedience you sense God calling you to, as a response to His faithfulness in your life? What is one concrete step you can take this week? ([01:10:01])
6. The sermon points us to Christ as the one who fulfills the covenant and makes obedience possible. How does knowing that Jesus has already fulfilled what you could not change the way you approach your struggles with faithfulness or obedience? ([01:14:48])
7. The psalm describes worship as remembering together. How can our small group or church community do a better job of publicly remembering and celebrating God’s faithfulness? What is one idea you’d like to try? ([46:15])