Psalm 77 – Deliverance for the troubled soul
(by Dr. Gregory H. Denysschen)
This Psalm is the cry of a poor tortured and troubled soul anguishing over his days of trouble and travail. He groaned in his distress and grew faint due to the trouble he faced. Experiencing great need and discomfort, turning to the Lord, he expected some response to carry him through the crisis, but there seemed to be none. He thought he remembered and he meditated. Some processing took place leading him to ponder essential aspects of God’s character. It produced six questions, which symbolically represent man’s labour before he enters into the sabbath rest of the people of God.
“Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favour again?
Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?
Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
These questions surface when suffering asks, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”
Our Heavenly Father leads us to understand that the labour of our hand needs to be fulfilled by us entering into His rest. These are the questions that will come up when we are not in the Shabbat Shalom promised by God.
It is as if a realisation hits home – remember the years when the Lord stretched out His hand; when help came from Him, remember His deeds, remember the miracles He did, remember His works and mighty acts! His pity party turned into a symphony of worship and filled his heart with hope and joy. He now celebrates the awesome power of God to redeem! Reflecting on the intimidatingly powerful thunderstorm unleashed overhead causing the earth to tremble and quake, he catches a small glimpse of God’s incredible power, mighty to save. There is the answer to his pain and travail, “your path led through the sea.” Now he can enter His rest!
In the same way, we may think God is unconcerned when we face trials, suffering, and tribulation. It may seem the heavens are bronze and God does not hear us. Questions also come up in our hearts and we also struggle during our “working week”. Asaph tells us that God is the God who is there even though His “footprints were not seen”. He can encourage us knowing “He is the God who performs miracles” in verse 14.
Let’s Read Psalm 77
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.
1 I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands,
and I would not be comforted.
3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned;
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
5 I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart meditated and my spirit asked:
7 “Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”
10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
13 Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
16 The waters saw you, God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,
the heavens resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, when we face trials of many kinds, we think you have forsaken us because we see no sign of your presence. Like Peter, we just see the waves and we sink. The Psalmist reflected on the power of the thunderstorm breaking over him and he remembered how You delivered Israel by opening up a way through the sea, even though Your footprints were not seen. Oh God who performs miracles, we know your power is greater than the thunderstorm -there to deliver us from the anguish we are in and for this we praise You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
This devotional was kindly contributed by Dr. Chow Li Sze and her channel Heavenly Devotion. You may find the channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/HeavenlyDevotion/videos
About the Heavenly Devotion channel
The Heavenly Devotion channel is dedicated to encouraging you to listen to Bible Scriptures and pray with the Scriptures. They are inspired by the call of service as expressed and exemplified by Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:12-15.
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrew 4:12 NKJV)
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