Psalm 77 was suggested to me during a time of great personal distress. The distress involved family illnesses and behaviors that were most disturbing. I was struggling to accept the diagnoses, the implications and the next steps/decisions which seemed imminent and loomed over me, especially in the middle of the night. I remember being very busy during every day and very tired at night. I don’t remember feeling a lack of courage, but I struggled with trusting. As a summary statement about Psalm 77, Max Lucado’s Inspirational Study Bible shares this overall observation: “Remembering and meditating upon God’s previous works can provide believers with courage during difficult times of struggle and trial.” In the NIV, this Psalm is for the director of music, for Jeduthun of Asaph. All these attributions imply people in musical/worship leadership and talent. During the above-mentioned stressful time for me, I felt it was written just for me.
Verses 1-3 are clearly the prayer of an individual crying out to God! Some folks play a lot of music, even a lot of loud music to disguise how they feel. For me, absolute quiet works best — that is, until the feelings of my mind and heart are loudly spoken, even with a balled-up fist! It is the response of a desperate time when I felt my prayers weren’t being heard, much less answered! Crying out can be a response to pain or a plea for assistance, attention, bewilderment! The psalmist stretched out untiring hands, his soul refused to be comforted, his spirit grew weak, his eyes were unable to close, and he was too troubled to speak! I think you get the message!
The Psalm’s mood changes in verse 4. The writer had a thought about earlier times — days, years. It seems that these memories were of better days, even better years in the past. Sometimes wonderful memories relax us, and a smile or giggle breaks out. The powerful waves of joy might even produce a hearty laugh to break the silence and to counteract the crying out! And so, we remember. I especially love that the memories include songs (verse 6). I praised God that my memory was working, and I could recall good, funny, joyful times.
Certainly, the reflecting brings about deep, penetrating thoughts and questions. We question ourselves and the very core of our faith, God and His faithfulness. Verses 7-9 relate six short questions. They are rhetorical and eloquent. They reach deep into what we are thinking but are afraid to ask aloud. From the first question, we can almost see a fist, tight with indignation. The questions seem targeted “at” God, not “to” God. I do not envision a long rant, but a rapid spewing of words — so rapid that the psalmist has hardly any time to hear answers. However, it is completely possible that each question was followed by a long pause as the asker waited for a response. I distinctly remember reading this Psalm several years ago in a time of quandary, not anger. My questions sounded more like “WHY?” and “HOW LONG?” But I read (and reread and reread) each question until I began to understand the answers — NO times 6! God has never rejected me or my prayers. God will show HIS favor again in HIS timing and wisdom. HIS love is unfailing and is very visible and never fails. We can always depend on HIS promises. God’s mercy is always in action. HIS compassion completely exceeds our feeble attempts to be caring.
Verses 10-12 address the psalmist’s purposeful decision to look past the present troubles and to draw near to God by remembering and meditating on HIS history of faithfulness, HIS mighty deeds, HIS miracles, HIS power, HIS redemption. Notice, I said remember and meditate. Every one of us can name at least one person if not multiple people, who have struggled with memory issues that are clinical in nature. We should do everything we can to exercise our spiritual minds so we never forget the biblical accounts that teach us about our active and holy God who leads us. Verses 13-20 remind us of how our God is responsible not only for miraculously providing a safe way for the Israelites through the Red Sea, but He is also responsible for miraculously providing a way for us to learn about Jesus, to accept Him as Savior and to join Him in Heaven one day. Sometimes we are hard on the Israelites and how their history, as revealed in Scripture, also included times of falling apart and failing to trust. I’m grateful to be living on this side of Calvary, that I have my own printed copy of His Word and that my history includes life-long opportunities to learn about Jesus, our personal and very caring Savior. My memories include vivid lessons learned — some that I just shared with you.
Reflect on these words of worship that we often sing: