"Just my luck," I said. "The High God goes out of business
just the moment I need him." (The Message, Psalm 77: part of verses 7-10).
Maybe, we have experienced something similar with the Psalmist. We thought, God might be too busy or out of business, just the moment we need Him. The first part of the Psalm 77 itself has shown us that the Psalmist was in a distress. Frustrated and depressed with his troubles, he doesn’t go for amusement. What he does: he seeks God with all his heart. He prays. In the midst of trouble, He can’t really speak to God (too troubled to speak – verse 4). He thinks that the Lord rejects Him, His promises failed, His unfailing love vanished, He has gone forever from his life.
But then on the next verses, we can see the changes of his attitude. He doesn’t think that God is being angry anymore. He can see the greatness of the Lord once again.
It’s always interesting to see that the Bible is still up to date to our problems nowadays. We can see that even the Psalmist from more than 2000 years ago has experienced the same thing with us. Praying and hoping, but the condition doesn’t change. Praying and hoping, but not much improvement in this life. And then we think that God has left us, He’s too busy for us since so many people that needs His attention at the same time. And last but not least, we might think that He’s venting His anger on us.
But all of those things are not true, although it happens a lot within the disciples of God.
Nothing wounds and pierces like the thought of God's being angry. God's own people, in a cloudy and dark day, may be tempted to make wrong conclusions about their spiritual state, and that of God's kingdom in the world. But we must not give way to such fears. Let faith answer them from the Scripture. The troubled fountain will work itself clear again; and the recollection of former times of joyful experience often raises a hope, tending to relief. Doubts and fears proceed from the want and weakness of faith. Despondency and distrust under affliction, are too often the infirmities of believers, and, as such, are to be thought upon by us with sorrow and shame. When, unbelief is working in us, we must thus suppress its risings--- Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Yes, we might get tempted to make wrong conclusions of our spiritual state. We might also misunderstand God for being in a deep rage towards us. Like what the Psalmist did, He keeps praying and praying. Until He can see things in a different point of view.
Days of troubles must be days of prayers. Not the other way around. Not the shopping thing, not the karaoke thing, not the drug or others addictive things… No! It’s supposed to be a prayer or sets of prayers. Until we can see it through. Until we can reduce the doubts and fears in our heart as a result of the want and weakness of faith. And finally, until we can see the goodness of the Lord once again. In prayers, I believe, as long as we pray with all our heart… with all our soul, eventually we can see the difference. Like so many miscommunications in this world, as long as we communicate there’ll always be an opportunity to reconcile. As long as we pray to the Lord, there must be an opportunity where we can gain a new understanding on Him rather than keep blaming it on Him.
He’s good. He’s very good. He’ll always be the goodness of all good things.
And what is the best thing of this Psalm 77? I can see that there’s a change of attitude. First, He was so frustrated and thought God has left Him. But then, He can see from a different perspective that God has never left Him alone.
Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. (verse 19).
His footprints were not seen, but we believe that His path will lead us through this sea of life.
God will never be too busy. “ I’m just so lucky to have You, God, in my life.” Amen.
(-fon-)
Psalm 77
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.
1 I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.
2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands
and my soul refused to be comforted.
3 I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
Selah
4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.
5 I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;
6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart mused and my spirit inquired:
7 "Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"
Selah
10 Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the years of the right hand of the Most High."
11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.
13 Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah
16 The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
