Psalms 77

Psalms 77THEME: Perplexity about the mercy and goodness of GodThis psalm is “To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.” You will remember that Jeduthun was the chief musician. Asaph wrote this psalm for him either to play or to sing. It reveals a time of deep soul-searching because of the perplexity in the minds of the people in that day. Faith has its problems, but faith can find the solution. The answer again is in the sanctuary. History reveals that God does not forget.

Psalms 77:1

A good time to seek the Lord is in the day of trouble. I received a letter from a man who had lost his position. He would never listen to our program until he was out of a job and had nothing to do. It was then that he got right down to the nitty-gritty and trusted the Lord as his Savior. It is well to cry to the Lord in the time of trouble. “And he gave ear unto me.” God will hear you, my friend, when you are in trouble. You can go to Him. He is real. Sometimes I hear a soloist sing, “It’s real; it’s real; I know it’s real….” The way they sing it and the way they live makes me wonder if it actually is real with them. My friend, it is realnot because I say it, or because it is written here, but because you find it out by experience. He has already told us to taste of the Lord and see whether He is good or not. Try this thing out. “My sore ran in the night, and ceased not"I don’t think he was speaking of a physical sore but an open sore of the soul. Here is another wonderful thing he did:

Psalms 77:6

It is a wonderful thing to be able to sing in the night. I don’t mean that you sing out loud and wake everybody up out of sleep. “I remember my song in the night.” The night is the time when you wake up and worry. Problems loom largeeverything in the dark looks bigger than it really is. That is the time to remember your song in the night. Now he raises some perplexing questions:

Psalms 77:7

I would say that a practical atheist said these things, but I have asked the same questions. Maybe you have too. Do you realize that there are many of us believers who practice atheism? We, and I include myself, act as if God does not exist, as if He does not hear our prayers, as though He has thrown us overboard. We live as though God is no longer favorable and has stopped expressing His grace. My friend, God is good! He wants to be gracious to you and to me. Regardless of what you have done, God wants to be good to you.

Psalms 77:13

You will remember that as we began this Leviticus section of the Book of Psalms I pointed out that it is called such because it is anchored in the sanctuary, the Holy of Holies. “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary” is a reminder to us who are believers to not forsake “…the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is …” (Heb_10:25). We are enjoined today to meet with God’s people. God does not want you or me to go off in a corner and enjoy the Word of God by ourselves. We are to share the Word with others so that we can grow together. I don’t believe in super-duper saints. God won’t let you get way ahead of your brothers and sisters.

We are in the family of God and will have to share the Word and the blessing with each other. Therefore the way of God is in the sanctuary. If you are going to find the answers to your questions, you will have to meet with God’s people. I received a letter the other day from a Christian mother. She wrote: “God has given me and my husband five wonderful children to guide for Him. All of the children are saved except for the baby, who is seventeen months old. We are fortunate enough to be members of a Bible-teaching church, where the pastor is led by God instead of man. He is one of those precious men of God who has been rebuked and has had his life threatened because of his boldness for God. Our cup runs over with joy as we see God work in the hearts of people and change their lives.” It is good to hear of a church like this.

We hear a great deal of criticism of churches, but there are many Bible-believing churches still at work today. If you attend a church where the Word of God is preached and taught, you should fellowship there and grow with the congregation. You will find the answer to many of your questions. The way in which the Devil works is subtle. His attack today is not a frontal one. He attacks the men who stand for the Word.

This is something of which we should take note. Now here is a scene that has to do with the sea.

Psalms 77:16

This passage refers specifically to God’s leading the people of Israel across the Red Sea.

Psalms 77:20

My friend, this has an application for us. God is able to deliver His people today from the flood tide of atheism and lawlessness and immorality. What a great, loving Shepherd He is!