It's amazing how easy it to feel sorry for our selves and for our circumstances. We can easily fall into the trap of having a pity party as if God had left us and we've had to endure and go on alone. In this Psalm we get to see the transition of the Psalmist as he makes his way from the self interest and depression to one of faith in the sovereign Lord. This takes place as the Psalmist remembers all the Lord has done in the past.
To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.
Jeduthun was a specific worship leader. The Psalm was apparently written by Asaph.
1I 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
The psalmist verbally cries out to God in his day of trouble. When that day came Asaph did what we all need to do. We need to seek the Lord. The stretched out hand is the posture of prayer. He pled his case before the Lord in prayer all night without stopping. Even then, the psalmist said his soul refused to be comforted. He knew God, he knew all that God had done but he couldn't find peace in his soul again.
This is always a tough place and everyone will find themselves there at one time or another. We know God is there, we know His promises, we know we can plead our case to Him, but it seems like our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. Our soul finds no comfort or peace because our troubles seem so overwhelming. It is always important to not doubt in the darkness what we know to be true in the light.
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.
The psalmist was so upset that he couldn't sleep and he couldn't put his words together and make sense. He spends his time thinking about times gone by, the good ole days, times when life was easier and without all the pain and suffering. His meditation continues as his spirit searches for a solution. How do you escape the pit of sorrow?
Notice how many references Asaph makes to 'I' or 'me' in these first six verses. It seems his eyes are solely on his circumstances and on himself.
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
These are tough questions and painful thoughts when you are in the dark valley. Will this last forever? Will life ever get better or is this as good as it gets? Has God's promises failed me? Does he no longer have mercy on me? Is God angry with me and removed all the good from my life?
There is nothing wrong with asking God questions. Our sin comes in demanding an answer that satisfies us, in our time. God has answered all these questions in His word. It is important for us to know the answers before we find our self in a dark time.
Refocusing on the Lord
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.
Asaph finally came to a place where a decision had to be made. Did he trust God with these circumstances or not? You see a determination and declaration of faith in Asap now. His focus is shifting from him self and his own circumstances to setting his eyes on God.
God had delivered him before. Yes, he was in anguish but he found the place of determination and commitment. This is when we come to the end of our selves and say, I will remember the times the Lord has blessed me and saved me in the past. This is the unwavering commitment to the Lord to praise Him and worship Him no matter where we stand. Even when our lives are difficult, He is still God, He is still the Almighty, He is still sovereign. When we can't find reason to praise Him because of a situation in our life, we can find reason to praise Him for our past or in the things He has done in another's life. We can praise Him in the word and praise Him for the sunshine, green grass or even the rain. We can never run out of reasons to praise God.
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
Notice the 'I' statements are gone and have been replaced with 'your' statements. Asaph is focused on God now.
God's way is in the sanctuary. This may be anywhere from the temple to heaven, we don't really know. What we do know is that God's ways are not our ways. He does His mighty works and we often get to be part of it. Sometimes those works require preparation and a time of pain, chastisement, or purifying by fire. We are quick to complain to God without wondering what amazing thing He is getting ready to do. Who is so great as our God? Obviously the answer is none. We can't begin to second guess Him. God declares a way among men. Our job is to be part of that and faithful in that way. He is the strength among His people. If we don't agree with what God is doing, who will we complain to?
16 The waters saw You, O God;
The waters saw You, they were afraid;
The depths also trembled.
God parted the
17 The clouds poured out water;
The skies sent out a sound;
Your arrows also flashed about.
The arrows speak of lightning. There was lightning and thunder and heavy rain as the Lord moved.
18 The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
The lightnings lit up the world;
The earth trembled and shook.
This is very poetic language. As the storm raged, the Psalmist saw the storm as the voice of the Lord. It was God moving and speaking.
19 Your way was in the sea,
Your path in the great waters,
And Your footsteps were not known.
God's way was in the sea that day. Maybe today his way is in something else. God is sovereign and holy and moves in our lives to speak to us in many ways. The small picture of our life is discomfort or pain or some inconvenience. The larger picture is God moving in the life of those who love Him and seek after Him with all their heart, mind and soul.
20 You led Your people like a flock
By the hand of Moses and Aaron.
As those people walked they weren't all comfortable. Some had a sore feet, sore muscles, backaches, corns, cramps, some were hungry, others tired and the list goes on. These are the complaints of man, but the bigger picture is that God was delivering His people.
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