Holy Insomnia

Introduction

As we prepare our hearts for God's Word, I need you to travel with me today into the book of Psalms, chapter 77.

And I need you to understand something before we even read the first verse.

This Psalm was not written in a sanctuary filled with shouting saints.

This Psalm was not penned on a mountain of victory.

No, my brothers & sisters—this Psalm was written in the valley.

This Psalm was written in the dark.

This Psalm was written by a man who couldn't sleep because his soul was too heavy to rest.

Now, before we dive in, let me give you some context that most folk never get in Sabbath School.

The writer of this Psalm is a man named Asaph (Ay-Saff).

And Asaph (Ay-Saff) wasn't just anybody

Asaph (Ay-Saff) was the worship leader!

This is the man King David himself appointed to lead worship in the tabernacle!

First Chronicles 16:4-5 tells us David set Asaph (Ay-Saff) over the ministry of praise and thanksgiving before the Ark of the Covenant.

This man was anointed!

This man had a gift!

This man had been in the presence of God so many times, his hands knew where to go on the instruments before his mind could tell them!

But here's what they don't tell you in the commentaries:

Even worship leaders have bad nights.

Even the most faithful people go through times when it feels like their prayers just hit a wall.

Even the person who leads everybody else into praise sometimes struggles to find their own song.

Now, I don't know who this is for, but somebody in here has been playing the part.

You've been lifting your hands on Sabbath, but crying into your pillow on Monday.

You've been shouting "Hallelujah" in church, but whispering "How long, Lord?" at home.

You've been carrying everybody else's burdens, but nobody knows you're barely holding on yourself.

Well, Asaph (Ay-Saff) says, "I've been there too."

And Psalm 77 is his testimony.

Let's read together:

Psalm 77:1–20 KJV 1900

I cried unto God with my voice, Even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. 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. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, The years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: And my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? And will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. And I said, This is my infirmity: But I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the Lord: Surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: Who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders: Thou hast declared thy strength among the people. Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: The depths also were troubled. The clouds poured out water: The skies sent out a sound: Thine arrows also went abroad. The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: The lightnings lightened the world: The earth trembled and shook. Thy way is in the sea, And thy path in the great waters, And thy footsteps are not known. Thou leddest thy people like a flock By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

I. When Trouble Steals Your Sleep (vv. 1-4)

Now walk with me back to verses 1-4.

The Bible says:

"I cried unto God with my voice... 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... Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak."

Let me paint this picture for you.

It's the middle of the night.

The house is quiet.

Everybody else is asleep.

But Asaph (Ay-Saff)?

Asaph is staring at the ceiling.

His eyes won't close because his mind won't stop.

The Hebrew here says his hand was stretched out in the night and did not grow weary

Meaning he was reaching for God, praying, pleading, all night long!

Now, some of y'all know exactly what I'm talking about.

You know what it's like to have "holy insomnia."

Not because you had too much coffee.

Not because you watched a scary movie.

But because your soul is wrestling!

Your spirit is troubled!

Your situation is so heavy that even your body can't find peace!

And notice what the text says

"My soul refused to be comforted."

Somebody tried to encourage Asaph (Ay-Saff).

Somebody probably said, "It's going to be alright, brother."

Somebody probably said, "Just have faith."

But Asaph (Ay-Saff) said, "I appreciate your words, but my soul ain't receiving them right now."

Now, let me be real with you, because we often don't like to admit this.

Sometimes you can't just "praise your way out" in five minutes.

Sometimes the pain runs so deep that simple words just don’t help.

Sometimes you need more than a cliché—you need a breakthrough!

And that's okay.

God can handle your honesty.

Brothers & Sisters, Asaph (Ay-Saff) was so troubled he said, "I cannot speak."

The worship leader was speechless!

The man who wrote songs for a living couldn't find the words!

Now, I don't know about you, but that comforts me.

Because sometimes my prayers don't sound pretty.

Sometimes all I can do is groan.

And Romans 8:26 tells us that when we don't know what to pray,

the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.

So even when you can't speak, the Spirit is speaking for you!

Somebody ought to thank God for that right there!

II. When Remembering God Brings More Questions Than Answers (vv. 5-9)

Now, watch this.

Verses 5 through 9 show us something that most people skip right over.

The Bible says:

"I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search."

Asaph (Ay-Saff) starts thinking about the past.

He starts remembering the songs he used to sing.

He starts reflecting on the testimony he used to have.

Now, normally when we remember God's goodness, we feel better, right?

Normally when we think about what God has done, our faith rises up!

But here's the problem

Asaph remembered God, and it made him feel worse!

Look at verse 3: "I remembered God, and was troubled."

Wait a minute!

How do you remember God and end up MORE troubled?

Here's the insight nobody talks about:

Sometimes when you remember how God moved in the past, and you look at your present situation, the contrast is painful.

You say, "God, You did it before! Why won't You do it now?"

You say, "God, You healed them! Why won't You heal me?"

You say, "God, You made a way for her! Why is my door still closed?"

And this leads Asaph (Ay-Saff) to ask six dangerous questions in verses 7-9.

He asks:

"Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?

Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?

Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?"

Now, church, I need to stop right here.

Because some of you might be uncomfortable.

Some of you maybe thinking, "Pastor, should we really be reading this tonight? This sounds like doubt!"

And you're right—it IS doubt!

But here's what you need to understand:

This is in your Bible for a reason!

God wasn't offended by Asaph's (Ay-Saff) questions.

God didn't strike him down.

God included his struggle in the sacred text!

You see, God is not intimidated by your questions.

He's not scared of your doubts.

He'd rather you bring your questions TO Him than walk away FROM Him!

Some people act like they’ve never had a single doubt about God.

You know the type—they’re in church, looking all holy, saying,

“Oh, I never question the Lord! My faith is like a rock!”

Meanwhile, last week, you couldn’t find your car keys and were pacing around the house like, “Come on, Jesus! Don’t do me like this!”

Or worse — you prayed for your favorite team to win the game, they lost, and suddenly you’re like, “Really, God? Whose side are You on?!”

Let’s not pretend we haven’t all had those moments where we gave Him a little side-eye.

Don’t act like you’re too holy to get frustrated

God knows you’ve had some choice words when the Wi-Fi went out just when you needed to get online!

But here's the good news, family.

The Psalm doesn't end at verse 9.

Asaph (Ay-Saff) asks the questions,

but he doesn't stay there!

III. The Turning Point: When "I" Becomes "I Will" (vv. 10-12)

Now, watch the shift in verse 10.

This is the central point of the entire Psalm.

This is where everything changes.

"And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High."

Do you see what just happened?

Asaph had a moment of self-awareness.

He said,

"This struggle,

this doubt,

this questioning

this is MY infirmity.

This is MY weakness.

This is MY limited perspective."

And then he makes a DECISION.

He says, "BUT I WILL remember!"

Notice

he doesn't say he FELT like remembering.

He doesn't say his circumstances changed.

He doesn't say an angel showed up and fixed everything.

No!

He made a CHOICE to shift his focus!

Church, let me tell you something that will set you free:

You cannot always control what happens to you,

but you CAN control what you focus on!

The enemy wants to keep your eyes on your problem.

But God wants to turn your eyes to His power!

Look at verses 11-12:

"I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings."

Three "I wills"!

I WILL remember!

I WILL meditate!

I WILL talk!

This is spiritual warfare, family!

When your mind is assaulting you with doubt,

you have to fight back with declaration!

When your emotions are dragging you down, you have to discipline yourself to look up!

You don't wait until you FEEL like praising

you praise until you FEEL like it!

You don't wait until you FEEL like trusting

you declare your trust until your feelings catch up!

Somebody needs to put in the chat, "I WILL remember what God has done!"

IV. The Sanctuary Secret: Where God's Ways Are Revealed (v. 13)

Now, here's where the Adventist in me gets excited.

Look at verse 13:

"Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?"

This is a theological goldmine that most people skip right over!

Asaph (Ay-Saff) says, "If you want to understand God's ways, look at the sanctuary!"

Now, why is this important?

Because in the Hebrew understanding, the sanctuary was the place where God dwelt among His people.

It was the place where sin was dealt with.

It was the place where atonement was made.

It was the place where God's presence was manifested!

The sanctuary had three parts: the outer court, the holy place, and the Most Holy Place.

And each part revealed something about God's plan of salvation!

The altar of sacrifice in the court pointed to Christ's death for our sins.

The bread and the lampstand in the holy place pointed to Christ as the Bread of Life and the Light of the World.

And the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place, with the mercy seat above it, pointed to God's throne of grace!

So when Asaph (Ay-Saff) says, "Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary," he's saying:

"I may not understand everything, but I know that God has a plan!"

"I may not see the end, but I know God is working on my behalf!"

"I may not feel His presence, but I know He sits on the mercy seat, and grace is available to me!"

Church, when you can't trace God's hand, trust His heart!

When you can't understand His ways, remember His sanctuary!

He is still your High Priest!

He is still interceding for you!

He is still seated above the mercy seat!

V. Remember the Red Sea: When God Made a Way Out of No Way (vv. 14-20)

Now, Asaph (Ay-Saff) brings it home.

He shifts from his personal struggle to the corporate memory of Israel.

He takes us back to the Exodus

the greatest deliverance story ever told!

Look at verses 14-15:

"Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph."

Asaph (Ay-Saff) is saying, "The same God who delivered Israel is MY God!"

"The same arm that brought them out of Egypt is fighting for ME!"

And then he describes the parting of the Red Sea in verses 16-19:

"The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook."

Do you hear the power in this text?

The waters SAW God and got scared!

The depths got troubled!

The sky started talking!

The lightning started flashing!

The earth started shaking!

Why?

Because when God shows up for His people, ALL of creation has to respond!

(Pasue)

Now, here's a detail you might miss.

Look at verse 19:

"Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known."

God made a path through the sea, but His footsteps were not known!

In other words

You couldn't see where God was stepping, but you could see where He had been!

This is a word for somebody!

You may not be able to see God's footsteps right now.

You may not understand what He's doing.

But one day, you're going to look back and see the path He carved through your Red Sea!

You'll see how He made a way when there was no way!

You'll see how He opened doors that no man could shut!

You'll see how He kept you when you should have lost your mind!

You'll see how He provided when your bank account said otherwise!

His footsteps may not be known in the moment, but when you get to the other side, you'll see the trail He blazed!

VI. The Shepherd at the End: You're Not Alone in This! (v. 20)

Now, watch how this Psalm ends.

It doesn't end with thunder and lightning.

It doesn't end with power and majesty.

It ends with TENDERNESS.

Verse 20:

"Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron."

After all the storm imagery—

After all the cosmic drama—

God is revealed as a SHEPHERD leading His flock!

The same God who split the sea is the same God who gently leads His people!

The same God who thundered from heaven is the same God who walks beside you in the valley!

And notice WHO He uses to lead—Moses and Aaron!

God uses human instruments!

God uses imperfect people!

Moses had a stuttering problem and a murder in his past!

Aaron made a golden calf!

But God still used them to lead His people to freedom!

So don't count yourself out!

Your past doesn't disqualify you!

Your failures don't define you!

God uses cracked vessels to pour out His glory!

Application: What Do We Do With This?

Church, let me bring this home to you tonight.

Maybe you logged on here with an Asaph (Ay-Saff) problem

Couldn't sleep last night, soul heavy, questions swirling.

Maybe you've been asking,

"God, where are You?

Why haven't You answered?

Have You forgotten me?"

I need you to hear me clearly:

God has NOT forgotten you!

His mercy is NOT gone!

His promises have NOT failed!

But you have to do what Asaph did.

You have to SHIFT your focus.

You have to DECIDE to remember.

You have to CHOOSE to declare!

Stop majoring in your problems

and start meditating on His power!

Stop rehearsing your pain

and start recounting His promises!

Stop letting your circumstances write your story and let God's faithfulness be your testimony!

Somebody write in the chat, "I WILL REMEMBER!"

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

The God who parted the Red Sea is parting YOUR sea!

The God who led Israel through the wilderness is leading YOU through YOUR wilderness!

The God who made a way out of no way is making a way for YOU right now!

Closing

You might be surrounded by questions tonight, but I came to tell you—

The answer is not in the questions!

The answer is in the REMEMBRANCE!

When you can't see the way forward

REMEMBER what He's already done!

When you can't hear His voice

REMEMBER what He's already spoken!

When you feel like you're sinking

REMEMBER He's still the lifter of your head!

Somebody ought to open your mouth and give Him praise!

Not because you understand everything—

But because you REMEMBER His faithfulness!

He brought you through before

He'll bring you through again!

He healed you before

He'll heal you again!

He provided before

He'll provide again!

He showed up before

He'll show up again!

I feel the Holy Ghost in this platform!

His way may be in the sea!

His path may be in the great waters!

His footsteps may not be known!

BUT HE IS STILL LEADING YOU LIKE A SHEPHERD LEADS HIS FLOCK!

You are NOT alone!

You are NOT forsaken!

You are NOT forgotten!

The God who met Asaph (Ay-Saff) in his midnight is meeting YOU in YOUR midnight!

The God who answered Israel at the Red Sea is answering YOU at YOUR impossible situation!

The God who thundered from heaven is THUNDERING on your behalf RIGHT NOW!

Somebody give Him a PRAISE!

Somebody give Him a SHOUT!

Somebody give Him GLORY!

Because weeping may endure for a night—

But JOY is coming in the morning!

Your midnight is almost over!

Your breakthrough is at the door!

Your Red Sea is about to split!

Your enemy is about to be confused!

Your situation is about to shift!

All because you serve a God who meets you in your midnight and walks you into your morning!

SOMEBODY write in the chat "HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER!"

Amen and Amen!