Click here to go to Psalm 77
This is one of those "tough" Psalms, where the writer is burdened and doesn't seem to have much hope. Then again, life can be like that, and it's okay. Especially when we remember God's promises and what He's done in our lives. Although the writer never "praises" God in this Psalm he does reflect. Some days that's what we have to do, reflect on what God has done. The praise will come...
Psalm 77
ReplyDelete6 I remember my song in the night and reflect on it.
Psalm 42 (The Message)
A psalm of the sons of Korah
1-3 A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek;
I want to drink God,
deep draughts of God.
I'm thirsty for God-alive.
I wonder, "Will I ever make it—
arrive and drink in God's presence?"
I'm on a diet of tears—
tears for breakfast, tears for supper.
All day long
people knock at my door,
Pestering,
"Where is this God of yours?"
4 These are the things I go over and over,
emptying out the pockets of my life.
I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd,
right out in front,
Leading them all,
eager to arrive and worship,
Shouting praises, singing thanksgiving—
celebrating, all of us, God's feast!
5 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
soon I'll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He's my God.
6-8 When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse
everything I know of you,
From Jordan depths to Hermon heights,
including Mount Mizar.
Chaos calls to chaos,
to the tune of whitewater rapids.
Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers
crash and crush me.
Then God promises to love me all day,
sing songs all through the night!
My life is God's prayer.
9-10 Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God,
"Why did you let me down?
Why am I walking around in tears,
harassed by enemies?"
They're out for the kill, these
tormentors with their obscenities,
Taunting day after day,
"Where is this God of yours?"
11 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
soon I'll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He's my God.
Exactly--it may not be outright praise, but it's remembrance, and I love that. That the psalmist spends 9 verses asking, "Are you there, Lord? Are you EVER there?" and then answers it with 9 verses, saying, "Of course you are--here's where I've seen you."
ReplyDeleteRemembering, reflecting, is one of the most important things we can do. Because by recalling how the Lord has never left us, we remind ourselves that now is no different. If the Eternal One was with us THEN, He's with us Now. Which is in itself a praise.