Psalm 77 is an extremely emotional lament psalm of Asaph. Asaph expresses very vividly his despair and the hopelessness of Israel. While the context of the psalm is not certain, most biblical scholars believe the context was during a time of some type of national crisis in Israel, possibly even during their exile. Remembrance is a continued theme throughout the psalm. So, for our first examination of the psalm, we will examine the first time the idea of remembering is used by Asaph.
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. I remembered You, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint. You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night.
In the night, Asaph cried out to God in his distress. He stretched out his hands and initially could not find God. Yet, Asaph remembered God’s true nature and mediated on it through the night. He remembered God in the songs at night. Reflecting on God’s faithfulness helped shift his focus away from his current distress and back toward God. And while his emotional distress did not end immediately, remembering all the things God had done for him and Israel helped Asaph find comfort.
We often dwell on our distress and suffering during the night. The darkness of night has a way of amplifying our inner struggles. The absence of light and the sun intensifies feelings of despair and hopelessness. So, Asaph shows us how to navigate the darkness of night when our despair spirals out of control. Remember God and all He has done. Recall your songs of praise to Him to help refocus your mind on His presence. Why? Because God is light, and by remembering Him, you dispel the darkness in your mind—God cannot dwell in darkness. #Remember
Adonai's Appeal 