REMEMBER THE DEEDS OF THE LORD

Passage: Psalms 77:1-20

Key verse: 11

NIV

Psalm 77[a]
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.

1 I cried out to God(A) for help;
    I cried out to God to hear me.
2 When I was in distress,(B) I sought the Lord;
    at night(C) I stretched out untiring hands,(D)
    and I would not be comforted.(E)

3 I remembered(F) you, God, and I groaned;(G)
    I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.[b](H)
4 You kept my eyes from closing;
    I was too troubled to speak.(I)
5 I thought about the former days,(J)
    the years of long ago;
6 I remembered my songs in the night.
    My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

7 “Will the Lord reject forever?(K)
    Will he never show his favor(L) again?
8 Has his unfailing love(M) vanished forever?
    Has his promise(N) failed for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?(O)
    Has he in anger withheld his compassion?(P)”

10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
    the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.(Q)
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your miracles(R) of long ago.
12 I will consider(S) all your works
    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”(T)

13 Your ways, God, are holy.
    What god is as great as our God?(U)
14 You are the God who performs miracles;(V)
    you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,(W)
    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

16 The waters(X) saw you, God,
    the waters saw you and writhed;(Y)
    the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,(Z)
    the heavens resounded with thunder;(AA)
    your arrows(AB) flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,(AC)
    your lightning(AD) lit up the world;
    the earth trembled and quaked.(AE)
19 Your path(AF) led through the sea,(AG)
    your way through the mighty waters,
    though your footprints were not seen.

20 You led your people(AH) like a flock(AI)
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron.(AJ)

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 77:1 In Hebrew texts 77:1-20 is numbered 77:2-21.
  2. Psalm 77:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 9 and 15.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

In the Day of Trouble I Seek the Lord

To the choirmaster: according to (A)Jeduthun. A Psalm of (B)Asaph.

77 I (C)cry aloud to God,
    aloud to God, and he will hear me.
2 (D)In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
    in (E)the night my (F)hand is stretched out without wearying;
    my soul (G)refuses to be comforted.
3 When I remember God, I (H)moan;
    when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah

4 You hold my eyelids open;
    I am so (I)troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider (J)the days of old,
    the years long ago.
6 I said,[a] “Let me remember my (K)song in the night;
    let me (L)meditate in my heart.”
    Then my spirit made a diligent search:
7 “Will the Lord (M)spurn forever,
    and never again (N)be favorable?
8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
    Are his (O)promises at an end for all time?
9 (P)Has God forgotten to be gracious?
    (Q)Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah

10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
    to the years of the (R)right hand of the Most High.”[b]

11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will (S)remember your wonders of old.
12 I will ponder all your (T)work,
    and meditate on your (U)mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is (V)holy.
    (W)What god is great like our God?
14 You are the God who (X)works wonders;
    you have (Y)made known your might among the peoples.
15 You (Z)with your arm redeemed your people,
    the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

16 When (AA)the waters saw you, O God,
    when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
    indeed, the deep trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water;
    the skies (AB)gave forth thunder;
    your (AC)arrows flashed on every side.
18 (AD)The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
    (AE)your lightnings lighted up the world;
    the earth (AF)trembled and shook.
19 Your (AG)way was through the sea,
    your path through the great waters;
    yet your footprints (AH)were unseen.[c]
20 You (AI)led your people like a flock
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 77:6 Hebrew lacks I said
  2. Psalm 77:10 Or This is my grief: that the right hand of the Most High has changed
  3. Psalm 77:19 Hebrew unknown
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Asaph cries out to God in distress, but his prayer appears to go unanswered. During one of these sleepless nights, he concludes that God was keeping him awake and troubling his heart. With a faint spirit, he asks God six rhetorical questions (7-9) because God seems to be rejecting him and withholding his compassion toward him. He then deliberately focuses his thoughts on past times when God seemed so near. He remembers God’s mighty works for his people and meditates on them. Then Asaph realizes: Although God’s footprints were unseen, God shepherded his people through the Red Sea. God’s way often appears hidden, even when he is leading.

When we feel locked down by the trials of life, how can we regain spiritual perspective? Instead of looking at the trials and questioning God’s seeming indifference and silence, we need to turn our hearts toward the rearview mirror at God’s past blessings. Until when should we remember, consider, and meditate on God’s past blessings and mighty works for us and his people? Until we recognize that Jesus is shepherding us faithfully, although his shepherding is sometimes hidden.

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember your mighty work in and around me and to trust in Jesus, my good shepherd who shepherds us faithfully.

One Word: Remember God’s work