1 Chronicles 8:24-28: a reflection

24Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25Iphdeiah, Penuel, the sons of Shashak, 26Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27Jaareshiah, Elijah, Zichri, and the sons of Jeroham. 28These were heads of fathers’ households throughout their generations, chief men. These lived in Jerusalem.

This passage is a list of names, heads of families who lived in Jerusalem, most of whom we know nothing else about. To us they are just names, otherwise forgotten by history. And yet here they are, recorded, named, remembered. Though the world knows nothing of them, and they left no famous deeds, they were known and remembered, their names written down and preserved. Each mattered enough to be recorded.

Notice that these otherwise-forgotten people are named and remembered. History has forgotten them; we know nothing of their lives, their struggles, their faithfulness. And yet their names were recorded, preserved, remembered, each one noted. Though the world would forget them, they were not entirely forgotten; each was known by name, and recorded. There is a dignity in that: each ordinary, otherwise-forgotten person mattered enough to be named and remembered.

That points to a comfort for the obscure and the unremembered, which most of us are: that God knows and remembers each of us, even when the world forgets. Most of us will not be remembered by history; our names and lives will be forgotten by the world, as these names would be but for this list. But God knows and remembers each of his people, even the obscure, the forgotten, those the world takes no note of. If you feel obscure, unremembered, unknown to the world, take comfort that you are known and remembered by God, who forgets none of his own. The world may forget you, as it forgot these named here; but God remembers each of his people by name, even those history overlooks. You are not forgotten by God, however obscure or unremembered you feel; he knows and remembers you, as each of these otherwise-forgotten names was known and recorded, and far more, for he knows each of his own by name.

Lord, this passage is a list of names, heads of families who lived in Jerusalem, most of whom we know nothing else about, otherwise forgotten by history; and yet here they are, recorded, named, remembered, each mattering enough to be noted. Show me the comfort in that for the obscure and unremembered, which most of us are: that you know and remember each of us, even when the world forgets. Most of us will not be remembered by history; our names and lives will be forgotten by the world, as these names would be but for this list. But you know and remember each of your people, even the obscure, the forgotten, those the world takes no note of. If I feel obscure, unremembered, unknown to the world, let me take comfort that I am known and remembered by you, who forget none of your own. The world may forget me, as it forgot these named here; but you remember each of your people by name, even those history overlooks. I am not forgotten by you, however obscure or unremembered I feel; you know and remember me, Lord, as each of these otherwise-forgotten names was known and recorded, and far more, for you know each of your own by name. Thank you that you remember me.