There is Hope in Our Lament
When we cannot see the path, we must trust the shepherd. In the days of Moses, God brought His people through the sea.
It is important for us as Christian believers to maintain an attitude of faith and confidence in God. How do we do that in such an uncertain world, broken by sin and wicked generation? Sometimes in times of distress we form a theology of God and His attitude toward us and our world. But someone who knows God and believes God will turn to their faith and confidence in God during those times of lament. There is hope in our lament.
The Lament
Psalm 77 begins as a psalm of lament, the cry of the people of God in days of darkness and distress, despair and desolation. The psalmist is filled with doubts, sleepless nights, and loathsome weariness. The very though of God is painful. This is not simply one bad circumstance that caused this sorrow. His whole life has been defined by anguish.
Psalm 77:1-3
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 I would not be comforted.
3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned;
I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
The Hope
There can be hope in lament. Lament can turn to hope and praise. God wants us to pour out our heart to Him in our distress. He says to tell Him about our pain and sorrow and doubt. The great change of mood in this psalm comes when the psalmist begins to remember, to meditate, and consider the works and goodness and power of God. In the midst of his distress and without denying the reality and pain of his circumstance, he turn his attention toward God, towards God’s faithfulness, towards God’s goodness, towards God’s power.
Psalm 77:4-9
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 meditated and my spirit asked:
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?”
The Word
God’s alter is in our heart. We must decide what we will do with the word of God. The psalmist recalls previous blessings by meditating on the scriptures, the Bible, the word of God. The psalmist turned to the scripture and from the scripture was drawing hope in lament. We can hide His word in our heart and He will be with us wherever we go.
Psalm 77:10-15
10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
13 Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as 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.
The Promise
Focusing on what God has done for us and His miracles for others will draw us more deeply into God and His purposes and promises, plans and priorities, power and peace.
Psalm 77:16-20
16 The waters saw you, God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,
the heavens 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.
Pub 11/22/22