Psalm 105

I think it is Tony Campolo who tells this story.

An older gentleman was making his way home on a commuter train. At one stop a young man boarded the train carrying a Bible and began to walk down aisle of the train speaking to each person he encountered, asking, "Have you been saved?" He passed out tracts to all those who would take them, and left them for those who would not.

When he arrived at the seat where the older man sat, the young man leaned in and said, "And how about you? Have you been saved?"

"Yes, I believe I have," he replied.

Sensing uncertainty, the evangelist bore down with step two from his script. "Can you remember exactly when you were saved?"

"Well, I'm not exactly sure," said the older man, "but I believe it was about 2,000 years ago."


"Remember the wonderful works he has done,
     his miracles, and the judgments he has uttered,
O offspring of his servant Abraham,
     children of Jacob, his chosen ones." (Ps. 105: 5-6)

Remember. Remember his works, his wonderful works.

The 105th Psalm goes on to recount the defining moment in the life of Israel: YHWH's steadfast love in delivering his people from slavery in Egypt and his fulfillment of his covenant with Abraham by giving his offspring the land promised.

As Christians, we remember that defining moment, that blessing, and beyond it we remember another. We look to the moment in which I AM fulfilled the covenant promise that through Israel he would bless all the nations of the earth. During Lent we remember Israel's 40 years of wilderness discipline in preparation. During Lent we remember Jesus' 40 days of wilderness fasting and prayer as he prepared to walk the path of faith that would take him to Good Friday. During the 40 days of Lent we remember all of this by fasting, praying, and preparing our hearts for our own Good Friday.

 We remember when we were saved: about 2,000 years ago.