Psalm 77 Some national tragedy “Humiliation by Chaldean oppression” (Scroogie) “When the Psalmist wrote, the blow has fallen. Israel was in exile. It is clearly no mere private and personal sorrow which overwhelms his spirit, but the apparent rejection of Israel by God. But in the light of Israel’s past history he is taught to believe that this rejection cannot be permanent” (Kirkpatrick) “A time of deep trouble” (Jenson)

Psalm 77 Some national tragedy Picture of one wrestling with grief and doubts Wonders if God has forgotten his people Has sleepless nights Has questions for which he seeks answers Illustrates to us – anguish of soul is not a modern phenomenon Ultimately finds comfort in God

Psalm 77 Some national tragedy Picture of one wrestling with grief and doubts Two parts to the Psalm Verses 1-9 Sigh Trouble Present National Disaster Verses 10-20 Song Triumph Past National Deliverance

Psalm 77 The Psalm Lessons From the Psalm

Psalm 77 The Psalm Lessons From the Psalm

Seems That God Has Forgotten His People Psalm 77 Seems That God Has Forgotten His People Seems Like God Has Forgotten His People (1-9) Cries out to God – finds no comfort (vv. 1-3) Troubled and thinks back (v. 4-6) Questions: has God forgotten (vv. 7-9) Hope and Confidence Based on the Past (10-20) Admits his thinking was wrong (vv. 10-12) His comfort is in God (vv. 13-20)

Seems That God Has Forgotten His People Psalm 77 Seems That God Has Forgotten His People Seems Like God Has Forgotten His People (1-9) Cries out to God – finds no comfort (vv. 1-3) Troubled and thinks back (v. 4-6) Questions: has God forgotten (vv. 7-9) Hope and Confidence Based on the Past (10-20) Admits his thinking was wrong (vv. 10-12) His comfort is in God (vv. 13-20)

I cried out 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

Seems That God Has Forgotten His People Psalm 77 Seems That God Has Forgotten His People Seems Like God Has Forgotten His People (1-9) Cries out to God – finds no comfort (vv. 1-3) Troubled and thinks back (v. 4-6) Questions: has God forgotten (vv. 7-9) Hope and Confidence Based on the Past (10-20) Admits his thinking was wrong (vv. 10-12) His comfort is in God (vv. 13-20)

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.

Seems That God Has Forgotten His People Psalm 77 Seems That God Has Forgotten His People Seems Like God Has Forgotten His People (1-9) Cries out to God – finds no comfort (vv. 1-3) Troubled and thinks back (v. 4-6) Questions: has God forgotten (vv. 7-9) Hope and Confidence Based on the Past (10-20) Admits his thinking was wrong (vv. 10-12) His comfort is in God (vv. 13-20)

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?

Seems That God Has Forgotten His People Psalm 77 Seems That God Has Forgotten His People Seems Like God Has Forgotten His People (1-9) Cries out to God – finds no comfort (vv. 1-3) Troubled and thinks back (v. 4-6) Questions: has God forgotten (vv. 7-9) Hope and Confidence Based on the Past (10-20) Admits his thinking was wrong (vv. 10-12) His comfort is in God (vv. 13-20)

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.

Seems That God Has Forgotten His People Psalm 77 Seems That God Has Forgotten His People Seems Like God Has Forgotten His People (1-9) Cries out to God – finds no comfort (vv. 1-3) Troubled and thinks back (v. 4-6) Questions: has God forgotten (vv. 7-9) Hope and Confidence Based on the Past (10-20) Admits his thinking was wrong (vv. 10-12) His comfort is in God (vv. 13-20)

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.

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

Seems That God Has Forgotten His People Psalm 77 Seems That God Has Forgotten His People Seems Like God Has Forgotten His People (1-9) Cries out to God – finds no comfort (vv. 1-3) Troubled and thinks back (v. 4-6) Questions: has God forgotten (vv. 7-9) Hope and Confidence Based on the Past (10-20) Admits his thinking was wrong (vv. 10-12) His comfort is in God (vv. 13-20)

Psalm 77 The Psalm Lessons From the Psalm

Psalm 77 Lessons From The Psalm Cry out to God & express your grief (vv. 1-3) Time to weep (Ecc. 3:4) Jesus wept (John 11:35) Something therapeutic about tears – its helps purge the heartache

Psalm 77 Lessons From The Psalm Cry out to God & express your grief (vv. 1-3) Sleepless nights of anguish can drive sober thinking (vv. 4-6) Often so busy in daily life – fail to think and meditate Danger of forgetting in times of ease (Deut. 6:10-12) Grief and sorry promote serious thought

Psalm 77 Lessons From The Psalm Cry out to God & express your grief (vv. 1-3) Sleepless nights of anguish can drive sober thinking (vv. 4-6) Ask questions – but seek the answer (vv. 7-9) No shame in having questions or doubts Shame in accepting the questions as the final answer

Psalm 77 Lessons From The Psalm Cry out to God & express your grief (vv. 1-3) Sleepless nights of anguish can drive sober thinking (vv. 4-6) Ask questions – but seek the answer (vv. 7-9) Troubled soul has a narrow focus (vv. 10-15) “It depicts the struggle of a soul as centred in a single night of anguish” (Scroggie) We “find reassurance by looking behind and before, to history and to heaven” (Scroggie) “As he lay awake, despair and hope battled within him for the mastery, and before day dawned a great light had flooded his soul” (Scroggie)

Psalm 77 Lessons From The Psalm Cry out to God & express your grief (vv. 1-3) Sleepless nights of anguish can drive sober thinking (vv. 4-6) Ask questions – but seek the answer (vv. 7-9) Troubled soul has a narrow focus (vv. 10-15) Remember God’s power is greater than power of world (vv. 16-18) Psalmist has seen the power of Assyria & Babylon Nothing compares to the power of God

Psalm 77 Lessons From The Psalm Cry out to God & express your grief (vv. 1-3) Sleepless nights of anguish can drive sober thinking (vv. 4-6) Ask questions – but seek the answer (vv. 7-9) Troubled soul has a narrow focus (vv. 10-15) Remember God’s power is greater than power of world (vv. 16-18) God has delivered his people & can deliver (vv. 19-20) Thinking of the past helps us (v. 12) Talking of the past helps others (v. 12) Same God that delivered from Egypt – will deliver from Babylon Same God will deliver us!

Psalm 77 The Psalm Lessons From the Psalm