Last month brought us the daily counting of the Omer, which started during the Festival of Unleavened Bread and ends this month at Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks.

The month of Sivan, which is the third month on the biblical calendar, has several events that are remembered. With the recounting of the story of Ruth, the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, and the empowering of the believers as recorded in the book of Acts, this month is full of events that are remembered.

It is a good and healthy practice to remember events, relationships, and the words of Scripture. Not only is it good, but it is one of the callings that the Holy One has given his people to do.

HaShem, through his love, desired to have relationship with his people. By his wisdom he instituted covenants which explain how he would love, protect, and care for his people and how they would love and serve him.

For parties to honor the covenant that they have made with one another, they must remember the agreements contained within the covenant. In the Scriptures, both the people of God and the Holy One are partners in the covenants. Therefore, they both have agreed to enter in these acts of remembrances.

The Holy One has demonstrated his great covenant loyalty and his consistent acts of remembering throughout Scripture. In Genesis 9, he told Noah that he would never again destroy man and beast by flood and that he would remember this covenant whenever he sees the bow in the cloud. Throughout the Torah and the bible, he states that he remembers his covenants to the Patriarchs and also to the children of Israel that was made on Mt. Sinai.

HaShem told his people that they are to remember. That is they are to actively think about various things, which is one of the meanings for the word zachor, the word that is often translated as "remember." For example, in Exodus 13, we read that the people were to, "Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the LORD brought you out from this place." By remembering such an event and the surrounding circumstances, the people would be humble and know that it was the Holy One alone that redeemed them from the bondage.

In Numbers 15, the Holy One demonstrates his knowledge of his people's forgetfulness. He gave tzitzit or tassels on the four cornered garment so that his people would be able to look at them and remember his commandments and to be holy unto him.

The prophet Malachi recorded the words of HaShem that the people up to (and into) the Messianic Age are to, "Remember the Torah of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes" (Malachi 4:4-5).

There is a final point of this remembering that is an important promise given by Hashem in Isaiah 43. He states that he will not actively call to his memory their sins: "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins."

As we celebrate Shavuot this month, may you be thoroughly strengthened and filled with his spirit to boldly and wholeheartedly live for the Holy One and proclaim Messiah to those around you. May you do this for his glory so that others may, through your obedience, remember HaShem and his ways.

Without doubt, you will be able to count on him remembering all upon which he has promised to set his mind. Not only does that include the land, the people, and the Scriptures of Israel, but that includes you.