I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. Psalm 77:11
Meditating When Distressed
Psalm 77 is a psalm of a troubled believer. It is marked by a sense of inward trouble and reflection. Key terms in the psalm are the verbs “to remember” and “to meditate.” The outline is as follows: (1) a cry to God vv.1-3; (2) doubts vv. 4-6; (3) a question: Has God forgotten? Vv. 7-9; (4) focus on the goodness of God vv. 10-12; (5) remembrance of the incomparability of God vv. 13-15; (6) remembrance that God is Lord of the sea vv. 16-20. Asaph is unable to find comfort even in prayer. He cannot understand why God seems unwilling to express His covenant love to Israel. Yet he finds the answer his troubled heart requires by meditating on God’s mighty acts for Israel at the time of the Exodus. God who unleashed His power to redeem Israel will surely act for them again.
77:4-6 You hold my eyelids open: Asaph could not sleep. Through the night he thought about his situation and his past, but most importantly he turned to God. First he cries out to the Lord in anguish. But then his focus changes; he reminds himself of the power of God and all the miraculous things the Lord has done.
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.
77:11-13 I will remember the works of the Lord: Asaph made a conscious decision to turn from his pain and focus his thoughts on the person, works, and wonders of God. His first focus is on the incomparability of God. Who is so great a God as our God? With this question Asaph reminds himself that the living God cannot be compared to any other god or power. This wonderous God demonstrates His power in a variety of ways, but especially in the redemption if Israel from Egypt.
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. 13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God?
77:16-18 Asaph now turns his thoughts to God’s sovereignty over the powers of the sea, His control over the waters and the depth. Moreover, the Almighty controls the skies, for a storm as depicted in these verses is merely a response to His strength. Your arrows is a poetic description of lightning.
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.
77:19 This verse presents images of God as the Lord of the storm and the sea, walking on the waters. The term great waters may be rephrased “many waters.” The point is that the waters are not threat to God, for they are merely another pathway for Him to walk.
19 Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, And Your footsteps were not known.
77:20 God is Lord of His people. He is the Shepherd who leads His flock, as He has done from the time of Moses and Aaron. Lost in contemplation of the greatness of God, the poet seems thoroughly distracted from his pain. He does not mention it again, not daring to compare it to the greatness of Almighty.
20 You led Your people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron.
** When God seems to be silent, we can turn to the Scripture to be reminded of the power of God and all the miraculous things the Lord has done. Remember Exodus. Remember the miracles of victories over powerful enemies, healings and resurrection as well as transformation of Jesus’ witnesses. For those of us who have developed personal relationships with God, we can also consider our own experiences with God. We have experienced miracles and wonders already. The Bible along with our own experiences become the foundation of our faith.
Comfort from Recalling God’s Mighty Deeds
77 1 To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph. I cried out to God with my voice– 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. Selah 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. 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? Selah 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. 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. Selah 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.
