Daily Devotion of Psalm 77

Daily Nugget:
Like so many, Asaph was troubled and pondered his situation as he laid down for sleep. Bedtime, while ove
rwhelmed with concern, is a good time to talk to the Lord about your problems. Asaph did just that (vss. 1-3). However, as do most, the more he thought about his predicament, the larger the problem seemed.

After the musician's constant contemplation of his calamity continued, more terrible thoughts added to his dilemma. “Will God no longer help me (vs. 7)? Will His mercy never intervene on my behalf (vs. 8) again? Because of God’s anger, will he never again be gracious (vs. 9) to me?

Rather than letting his worrisome thinking make matters worse, his logic and memory returned, putting the situation back into perspective. He now recalled the years that God had helped in the past (vss. 10-19). God did such mighty deeds to help His own in the past; He could do them again!

People need to pull themselves out of the worry-doldrums similarly. Instead of being frightened and overwhelmed by the huge mountain of troubles they may face, they need to look back and remember all that God had done for them in the past. That is what Asaph did, and fear and hopelessness were replaced by faith and hope.

If our walk and relationship with the Lord are the same as it was when God delivered us in the past, He will do it again. Our warranty with the Lord has not run out. He is the same God that helped us face the last mountain of fear in the past. He will see to it that His will for our lives is accomplished — again!

Today’s Thought:
Anxiety springs from the desire that things should happen as we wish rather than as God wills. — Author Unknown

Words to Understand:
Asaph: a song leader in the Temple
Complained: pondered
Jeduthun: He was a leader involved in the music for worship.
Overwhelmed: covered
Sore: troubled; vexation; grieved

Today’s Reading:
Psalm 77
1 To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: 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 commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
7 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?
9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
10 And I said, This is my infirmity: 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 thy wonders of old.
12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
15 Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
16 The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
20 Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.