The Western Wall of the...
Illustration
The Western Wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is partially standing and was, before 1968, called the Wailing Wall because of the lament and prayer there for centuries. The great Herodian stones have cracks between them where pious Jews have been inserting paper with prayer petitions on them to remind God of their request, much like the lighting of a candle. J. Jeremias say the idea of reminding God, to re-present before him, or to "re-call before God" is an important Old Testament idea. That's what the widow is doing in verse eighteen. "Have you come to bring my sins to remembrance (before God)," cries the widow from Zarephath to Elijah after the death of her son. The effect is God may remember and be merciful (or punish, as the case may be). For God to remember something is not just to think about it momentarily, but as God remembers his Covenant means he keeps it, fulfils his side of the promise. For God to remember means he is always acting in mercy or judgment. (This could be tied into "Do this in remembrance of me.")
