“Truth for Truckers” *April 17, 2014* Psalm 77 “The Extremes of Exercising the Soul”
The
Extremes of Exercising the Soul is the title of this Psalm as Asaph, the
author, passes through a number of troubles in his soul when it ‘Refused to be comforted’ (v.2.) He
records The Activities of The Troubled Soul in (v.1-6) Then in (v.7-9) Six
Doubtful Questions are set forth, but, through it all he finds eight ways to
remember his Lord which provide him with an anchor for his troubled soul. These
Remembrances and Reassurances are found
in (v.10-12) followed by Expressions of The Ways and Wonders of God (v.13-20)
which add to his faith and build stability for his soul.
The first indication of trouble comes in
(v.1) ‘I cried unto God with my voice...’
showing the urgent need for God’s attention. In (v.2) he describes the time of
distress as ‘The day of my trouble’
showing that this was not just an ordinary conflict he was facing, but,
instead, it was significant as he highlighted this event in his life as ‘The’ day showing it held the high
position of being singled out particularly.
His immediate recall is ‘I sought the Lord’ demonstrating his
urgent need when he ‘Cried unto God’
here repeating and underlining the action of seeking help for an overwhelming
problem in his life. ‘My sore ran in the
night and ceased not’ reveals that it was not only a spiritual malady, but,
he was suffering physically indeed. ‘My
soul refused to be comforted’ emphasizes the inner struggle that was
present during this time of physical sickness. ‘I remembered God, and was troubled’ demonstrates that his
remembrance of God did not bring the help he desired, rather, trouble came
instead.
‘My
spirit was overwhelmed’ tells the story as to the source of the trouble,
his was indeed a spiritual battle with
the results showing up in the physical realm, much like the situation Job found
himself experiencing when the LORD and Satan used him as their battlefield, a spiritual
battle bringing physical suffering. ‘Selah’
divides the revelation, and now he addresses the Lord: ‘Thou hold mine eyes waking; I am so troubled that I cannot
speak.’(v.4) And, here he points the finger at God, who he says was the
cause of his sleeplessness, and his trouble, and inability to speak.
He continues his complaint in (v.5, 6) ‘I have considered the days of old, the
years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune
with my own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.’ His efforts to
bring about relief are recorded but his condition is unchanged and the next
three verses demonstrate his frustrations.
‘Will
the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? Is His mercy clean
gone forever? Doth His promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be
gracious? Hath He in anger shut up His tender mercies? These six questions
unveil the depths of despair Asaph is experiencing because we all know the
answer to each and every one of these questions is NO, NEVER, A THOUSAND
TIMES...NO!!
‘Selah’
again brings a new section. In (v.10-12) Remembrances and Reassurances are
brought forth ‘And I said, This is my
infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High. I
will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember the wonders of old.
I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of all Thy doings.
He recognizes that it is not the Lord who
is responsible for his grief and then goes on to bring to mind the past years
of God’s powerful working and works in his own life and in ancient times when
He performed all the miracles of deliverance, but the turning point comes when
he decides to vocalize his remembrances and utter forth the manifold praises of
his God in (v.13-20). It truly is
amazing what praising will do!!
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