Psalm 77:11-12 – I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.”
THEME OF THE DAY: MEMORY TO THE RESCUE. A chaplain was sitting in a poorly lit railway station attempting to show a soldier the way of eternal life in the Lord Jesus. Opening up his New Testament to John 3:16, the chaplain said, “Son, please read these wonderful words of God.” The seeking soldier began, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only forgotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The soldier, due to the poor lighting, mistakenly read the word “begotten” as “forgotten” when reading of the Lord Jesus. His mistake is one we may easily duplicate especially when dark providences come our way, trials are overwhelming, or a period of seemingly never-ending spiritual winter settles in for a long season. At times like these, a journey to Psalm 77 is a cool drink for a thirsty soul.
Psalm 77 is tough reading . . . well, the first ten verses are tough reading. One title to the psalm is “Musing between Two Moods.” Take time today and read the psalm, but in case you are unable to do so now, let’s get a look into Asaph’s heart. I should probably put forth a warning. This guy is hurting, and he doesn’t shy away from being refreshingly candid. As we peek into his heart, we may respond in two ways. First, if we are not where Asaph is, we feel great sympathy. One wants to track him down, get a coffee, drive to a place of seclusion, and spend time praying for him, listening to him, and weeping with him. The other response is if we are where Asaph is, we may let loose a sigh of relief saying, “I am so glad I am not alone in this chilling season of spiritual darkness.” Allow Mr. Asaph to open up his heart – “I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I consider the days of old, the years long ago. I said, ‘Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.’ Then my spirit made a diligent search: ‘Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion’” (Psalm 77:1-9)?
What he does next determines if he is lost in a “snow drift” during his season of spiritual winter or “shovels” his way out to the warm radiance of God’s loving, but mysterious dealings in his life. He grabs the shovel. Memory comes to the rescue. Asaph does what we must do throughout the day – remember. He engaged his mind. Asaph got out of the spiritual doldrums by remembering. His engagement of his memory was directed two ways. First, he remembered what God had done in the past – I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old (Psalm 77:11). When we are feeling a little Psalm 77ish…remember what Jesus has done for your soul. Run to the cross and tomb. Those places dispel darkness. A second engagement of the mind Asaph practiced was a continual remembering of the past – I will ponder all your work and meditate on your mighty deeds (Psalm 77:12). Spiritual victory and light will not come by a passing thought, but a relentless committing of the mind and will to “chew over, meditate” to prevent the opposing forces of evil strangle truth. Asaph could have “forgotten” the Lord but chose to “remember.” This is the path out of darkness into ever-increasing light.
Prayer: “Lord, when the way seems dark, draw us to remember the Light of the World.”
Quote: Francis Schaeffer, “The spiritual battle, the loss of victory, is always in the thought-world.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim