Message Notes

SSS 4 21 May 2023
Book 3
Psalms 73-89

Text: Psalm 77

To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.
1 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 favourable 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.

Psalm 77:1-20

NOTATIONS OF THE PSALMIST

1. The chief Musician

2. Jeduthun was one of the chief musicians

3. He could be:

a) An archivist

b) A supervisor

c) A head of the musicians’ guild

A CANDID CONFESSION OF HOW PRAYER WAS OFFERED

1 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.

Psalm 77:1-4

1. Prayer was offered

2. The LORD heard

3. The manner of prayer

a) The soul refused to be comforted

b) There was a complaining spirit

c) Asaph felt overwhelmed

d) This approach to prayer was not good or wise

e) This approach had been tried before (Psalm 73)

i) It had not been good

ii) It was tried again

iii) Similar results!

iv) Praying this way brought much discouragement

A DIFFERENT APPROACH TAKEN

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.

Psalm 77:5-6

1. To consider the days of old (the past)

2. Recalling “my song in the night”

3. Meditation took place

4. The spirit searched (probed) diligently

RHETORICAL QUESTIONS RAISED

7 Will the Lord cast off forever?
And will He be favourable 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

Psalm 77:7-9

1. Questions concerning

a) The Person of the LORD

b) His favour

c) His mercy

d) His promise

e) His graciousness

f) His tender mercies

2. Rhetorical questions

The answer is obvious!
God has not forgotten all His covenant promises!

RETURNING TO THE LORD IN RENEWED FAITH

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?

Psalm 77:10-13

1. Key phrase
“I will remember”

2. Things to remember

a) The years of the right hand of the Most High

b) The works of the LORD

c) The wonders of old

3. Appropriate action

a) To meditate on all of God’s work

b) To talk of God’s deeds

c) To think of God’s sanctuary

d) To dwell on the greatness of the LORD

THE GLORIOUS HISTORY OF GOD’S DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL

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.

Psalm 77:14-20

1. God’s strength
This was evidenced

2. God’s redemption of Israel from Egypt
This must not be forgotten!

a) He parted the Red Sea

b) He destroyed the army of Pharaoh in the Red Sea

c) The LORD led His people by the hands of Moses and Aaron