Psalm 77

So, here’s the deal. Last September 15, power was out for the entire day. We were very aware of the option of going elsewhere to charge our phones, for me to use my laptop and all that… but I suppose the household informally decided to stay home and ‘fast’ from electronics.

Well, after the batteries on our devices conked out, anyway. But there remained a huge chunk of time left for me to use my physical Bible, and write on my notebook.

It’s September 17 today, and considering everything that’s making this week critical, I am insisting on posting in order, perhaps to unearth any revelations in the progression.

But even with that being said, I’d like to go ahead and nip something in the bud right now… something that couldn’t wait. This week IS critical. So critical, in fact, that I literally feel the levels and degrees of temptation are escalating, to throw me out of my focus, and to take me out of this state. There have been times this week where I’ve felt vulnerable… but even then, we give thanks to the Holy Spirit and His convictions upon us, because what we’ve talking about for (oh, a couple weeks now) remains true:

No matter how things escalate – When we submit to God, when resist the devil, the devil flees from us, we are reminded of God’s faithful, constant presence, and even angels come to minister to us, and to provide revelation.

Thought I’d get that out of the way as we keep going. As gaming-era PewdiePie says, (we) have the power of God and anime.

Thank You, Lord, for the reading of Your Word.

The Consoling Memory of God’s Redemptive Works

To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

(Psalm 77:1-3)

1 I cried out to God with my voice— To God with my voice; And He gave ear to me.

2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; My soul refused to be comforted.

3 I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.

Selah

Indeed, here I am reminded that we do not deny our troubles; We fully recognize this… uncomfortable reality. I suppose it gets to us as much as it impacts the Psalmist; He wrote as we may experience at times: We’re fully aware of our God and Father who reliably hears out voice, yet we still cry out, refusing to be comforted, and troubled; Though we’re somewhat are of His presence, we find ourselves seeking the LORD, hands stretched out without ceasing – but trouble continues to rob us of comfort, leaving our spirits so overwhelmed, that we complain…

There are times when we find ourselves remembering God, but are simply more aware and conscious of other things, bringing us to true contrition.

(Psalm 77:4-9)

4 You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

5 I have considered the days of old, The years of ancient times.

6 I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, And my spirit makes diligent search.

7 Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more?

8 Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore?

9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?

Selah

I’m brought to realize the stipulations, the possible impact of godly sorrow; That we would be brought to worship, as I wrote earlier… even brought to remembering our songs in the past, in both times of goodness, and in times of sorrow…

Yet, even in our gratitude, in our song, in our praise, in our worship, and in our remembrance – we may find our souls evaluating our circumstances, and consequently asking, as the Psalmist asks so freely: Is God’s favor gone? Is God’s grace and favor, no more?

Oh, heaven forbid these moments!

For I AM known! We, in the body of Christ ARE absolutely known and STILL fully and completely loved by Him!

Because of Christ – I tell the Psalmist, because of the Lion of Judah, who is of David’s bloodline of kings; I tell him, it’s because of Emmanuel, born of a virgin, because of Jesus Christ, and His birth, death, resurrection and ascension; I tell the Psalmist, as the Spirit convicts us – NOTHING shall cause the LORD to cast us off forever.

Because of Christ, NOTHING shall cause God to be ‘favorable no more’ against us.

Because of Christ, NOTHING shall cause God’s mercies to cease forever.

Because of Christ, NOTHING shall cause His promise to fail forevermore.

Because of Christ, NOTHING shall cause Him to forget His graciousness, nor shall anything cause His anger to shut up His tender mercies to us.

Because of Christ, NOTHING shall separate us from the love of the Father!

I REFUSE to believe that any remnants of our old creation can undo our Christ-bought relationship with the Creator!

I REFUSE to believe that anything we do can match or fully undo Christ’s finished work!

Because of Christ, we have been fully reconciled to God, as our Father.

Because of Christ, we are assured, regardless of what we do or what we don’t do, what is done to us, or what is done in us – that His mercies for us are fresh and new with every morning;

We are assured that His grace super-abounds to us, especially if sin attempts to abound;

Because of Christ, we are always highly favored – He is for us, and not against us!

We are disciplined, even rebuked, or even shown His anger, if only for a moment – but it is all BECAUSE of His love, and not FROM sin, fear, death, condemnation, anxiety, or a combination of all these awful things.

Here we see another demonstration of the Spirit’s consistency; More reason to see and appreciate why Christ was given the title, Faithful and True…

For even in moments that could truly cause us to question God’s goodness and glory… We are brought back to our forgiveness, our reconciliation…

We are brought back to the resurrection.

Halleluyah!

(Psalm 77:10-15)

10 And I said, “This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

11 I will remember the works of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.

12 I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.

13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God?

14 You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples.

15 You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph.

Selah

Indeed, present troubles may render us speechless, and no matter how we cry out and literally reach out to Him, we may not receive relief… perhaps, since it is our own soul that refuses to be comforted.

Indeed, condemnation would trouble us, and condemnation bears on us so heavily; We would even bring ourselves to a state (or rather, a cycle) of vulnerability, where we complain, and our souls are overwhelmed… and/or our souls are overwhelmed first, causing us to complain…

We arrive at these moments, sure as sin, death, and fear continue to run rampant and reign in this wretched reality… Yet, I believe it is as applicable today in the Spirit, sure as it was worth for the Psalmist and composer of this piece – That we see all this as our anguish, BUT we sill STILL remember the years of the right hand of the Most High!

For us today, this is us, submitting to God, and resisting the devil:

We continue in intentionally remembering the years of the right hand of the Most High. In spite of the heavy emotions, the Spirit beckons… come! Let us remember the works of the LORD!

Yes, let us remember our own salvation, and all the times the devil fled from us, all the times the LORD stayed faithful!

In spite of so many situations, the Spirit beckons… come! Let us remember His wonders of old! Let us recall the glory of God seen in all creation, in the mountains and valleys, the oceans and the seas!

In spite of the merciless chaos, the Spirit beckons… come! Let us meditate on all the stipulations, people, places, all the context in and around our situations; Let us speak to ourselves, and to each other, of how our infinite and eternal Creator came through as a Father, and saved us from danger, and redeemed us from compromise!

Oh, yes – let us praise Him! We are brought back to praise… No matter how far down we are pushed, no matter how dark and hopeless things get – the MORE our Father reveals His glory and grace, the MORE Jesus proves He is Faithful and True, the MORE we realize the Spirit is present and close!

Indeed, who IS so great a God, as our God? Let us join in the chorus of Creation, and praise Him!

(Psalm 77:16-19)

16 The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were afraid; The depths also trembled.

17 The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about.

18 The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook.

19 Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, And Your footsteps were not known.

And, in the final verse, we read:

(Psalms 77:20)

20 You led Your people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

We praise the Lord and see His glory, or we see His glory first, and respond with praise.

Here I’m reminded, we can’t see His glory, separate from His grace. His infinite power and eternal wisdom is seen through His perfect and everlasting love; Sure as the Psalmist ends his own exhortation with testimony – and not of his own account, but of God’s leadership upon the generations preceding him.

See the difference here? We testify FROM the goodness of God! We are not advertising FOR His goodness, but overflowing with our own testimony.

By the blood of Christ we testify. Indeed, we continue to submit to God and resist the devil… and, therefore, no weapon formed against us prospers. Therefore, no curses said against us shall come to pass.

We continue to submit to God and resist the devil… and, therefore, angels minister to us.

Therefore, the Spirit continues to comfort us, and leads us to all Truth.

In spite of overwhelming odds, and seemingly grave assaults against our physical and mental foundations, we continue to submit to God and resist the devil… and, therefore, the Father continues to make all things happen and work for the good… which is OUR good.

God is present with us. Christ is always with us, never leaving nor forsaking us, causing the work of our hands to prosper.

All for His will to be done, for His body to unite, for His kingdom to expand, and all for the utmost glory of His name.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!

Praise Him, all creatures here below!

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host,

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost! Amen!

Father, thank You for Your goodness. Thank You for Your grace, both today, and in the days to come.

Thank You also, for Your clear and present grace, in our past; You truly cause all things to work together for our good.

We may never know why certain things happened, but our trust is in You.

We may not know what to do now, and in the future… but our eyes are on You. Our trust is in You.

By Your grace, You protect us. You rescue us. You fill our hearts with joy, and our minds are in perfect peace.

For Your name’s sake, make haste to help us!

For Your name’s sake, save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil!

Move in a mighty way; By the power of Your Spirit, move mightily, decisively on the hearts and minds of humanity, and all who come to our remembrance;

Oh, Holy Spirit, You are present in the most clandestine of meetings, just as You are mighty in the midst of the most complicated of situations… You stand tall, high, and above the most impossible of circumstances!

Thank You, Father, Son, and Spirit!

You ARE our very present Help!

You ARE at work, and Your angels are super-active; We don’t need to see, to feel for us to know, and for us to be at peace, that You are working.

Quicken our hearts, to praise!

Keep us in perfect peace, as our eyes are on You!

You are Life – in You, we live.

You are power, and wisdom – in You, we move.

You are reason, will, vision, and purpose – in You, we have our being.

Thank You, Father, Son, and Spirit!

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