by, Isam Itson III
Psalm 77:1-2
I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, and he will hear me.
2 I sought the Lord in my day of trouble.
My hands were continually lifted up
all night long;
I refused to be comforted.
There are times when we are so desperate in our anguish that that we “refuse to be comforted”. In Psalm 77 the poet knows that nothing less that God acting their behalf can save them from their current crisis. Whatever is happening the writer refuses to stop pouring their heart out to God until God comes through for them. Even if they have to pray all night.
Psalm 77: 11-15
I will remember the Lord’s works;
yes, I will remember your ancient wonders.
12 I will reflect on all you have done
and meditate on your actions.
13 God, your way is holy.
What god is great like God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
you revealed your strength among the peoples.
15 With power you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
The poet remembers that God is the God of their people. The writer remembers that they have a special relationship with God. That God is truly and faithfully concerned with the well being of the people of Israel, spoken of here as the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Psalm 77:16-21
The water saw you, God.
The water saw you; it trembled.
Even the depths shook.
17 The clouds poured down water.
The storm clouds thundered;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
lightning lit up the world.
The earth shook and quaked.
19 Your way went through the sea
and your path through the vast water,
but your footprints were unseen.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
The writer remembers that God did the impossible for his people. God delivered his people from 400 years of Egyptian slavery by making a dry path for them through the bottom of the Red Sea. The writer remembered that their God can work wonders that are beyond the power of humans and that defy the laws of nature. When God’s people are helpless they can put their hope in God’s power, love, and faithfulness. Now the writer can rest.
Like God’s chosen people, Israel, we followers of Jesus Christ today must take the time to remember what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. We must remember that the God who sacrificed the life of his Only Son for us, will freely give us everything we need to live honoring God’s love for others (Romans 8:32).
As followers of Jesus Christ we must make a regular habit of reminding ourselves of the specific ways that God’s grace and wisdom has protected and preserved our lives from chaos and catastrophe. We must remember the times that God worked on our behalf and kept us from disaster. We must remember the nights we barely slept because we were worried about what tomorrow would bring, only to wake up and learn that God had already worked everything out for our good.
That’s why we refuse to be comforted until we have poured our hearts out to God. Because we know that God hears the prayers of his people. And when everyone else is powerless to help us, God is ready and able to carry us through life’s most impossible circumstances. Then we can rest assured of the love and faithfulness of our God.
