A Troubled Saint

Psalm 77 is a portrait of a troubled saint. It reminds us that even the most committed believer faces days of doubt and struggle. Asaph was a worship leader. He led the people of God in praise, yet he found himself discouraged at times. We’re not sure what the particular situation was in Asaph’s life that led him to this crisis. Whatever it was it affected him deeply on an emotional level. The Psalm is one that Christians can relate to. There is trouble in each day we face. Sometimes we find ourselves overwhelmed. When we do Psalms like this one can be of great comfort. We are going to outline Psalm by the Selah’s in it.

1. A troubled soul (1-3).

2. A confused soul (4-9).

3. A corrected soul (10-15).

4. An encouraged soul (16-20).

1. A troubled soul (1-3).

A. Despite his prayer (1).

Asaph prayed out loud to God. He mentions that twice for emphasis in verse 1. He knew that God heard him. There are times we feel compelled to pray out loud even in our personal prayers. Sometimes the soul cannot express itself silently. I know I have found that in my most difficult times I have to speak with God as I would speak to a friend.

Asaph is praying as well as he knows how to pray. He is doing so with passion and volume. Yet he is still troubled. We shouldn’t expect prayer to remove our troubles. We may be just as troubled when we finish praying as we were when we started. Jesus taught us when this happens, we should keep knocking, keep seeking and keep asking.

B. Despite his constancy (2).

He began praying when it was daylight and continued praying into the night. In Hebrew, the phrase “my sore ran in the night” describes an outstretched hand. Singing is not the only time that people raise their hands in worship to God. Prayer is a time when we stretch out our hands as well. Picture Asaph lying on his bed in the night, praying and stretching his hands toward the heavens.

Despite all this prayer his soul refused to be comforted. He did not have peace. Anxiety filled his soul. It appears he was persevering in prayer, but his soul was still troubled.

C. Despite his memory (3).

He said he remembered God and was troubled. The more he spoke to God about his situation the more overwhelmed he became. What was he remembering? We’re not sure. It could be he was remembering when God seemed to be dealing with him in a better way.

He was likely thinking of the good things God had done in his life. The Lord had blessed him in the past. He had sweet memories of abundance and blessing.

As he thought about how good God had been to him it made him more depressed about his current state. He would love to return to the days of blessing. We could see how this could happen easily even to us. Consider if we are depressed and thinking of a loved one who has dies. We open up a picture album and visit the past. As we see the photographs of the person we love we long to go back to those days. In that case, our memory serves as a source of the sorrow we are experiencing.

Asaph has tried to pray.

Asaph has tried to press through.

Asaph has tried to think about the good old days.

Asaph is still troubled.

2. A confused soul (4-9).

A. His concerns (4).

Asaph couldn’t sleep. He said the Lord held his eyelids open. Perhaps he means that if the Lord would answer his request or remove his calamity he could sleep. It is a tortuous thing to not be able to rest. Asaph lay in his bed with nothing but the thoughts of the trial he was in. Sleep could alleviate some of his suffering. At least if he were asleep, he wouldn’t be thinking about the situation. But he could not sleep.

He could not speak to people. He had no desire to be around anyone. The only One he wanted to speak to was God. It seemed to him that God didn’t want to hear from him.

It’s clear that Asaph was worried. Worry robs us of sleep and relationships. Asaph wanted to be alone. We shouldn’t think this is the right way to act. Asaph is simply being honest with us. He needed to trust in the Lord and rest in faith. He needed the encouragement of the saints. In his confusion he did not act in the best way.

B. His considerations (5-6).

Asaph knew what he needed to do. He wasn’t suffering because of ignorance. On his bed he considered the past. This probably includes God’s faithfulness to Israel as a nation as well as God’s faithfulness to him personally.

Asaph mentions a song in the night in verse 6. This phrase is used a few times in Scripture (Psalm 42:8, Job 35:10). It refers to moments of worship during difficult circumstances. When we think of the goodness of God it gives us reason to rejoice even when times are very dark.

Asaph was mature in the Lord and considered he needed to think of God’s goodness. He is intentional. This is important. We can’t be so overwhelmed with sorrow that we become unreasonable in our walk with God. Asaph made a decision to search himself spiritually. He could yield to despair or he could find a song in the night. The same is true for us. Sorrow will come to visit but we must send it home when it has worn out its welcome.

C. His questions (7-9).

His soul searching led him to ask a series of questions, all of which should be answered with an emphatic “No!” I think we can see in these questions that Asaph has realized he is thinking foolishly.

Will the Lord cast me off forever? That doesn’t make sense. That’s not consistent with His character.

Is the mercy of the Lord no more? Is God no longer a merciful God? The Bible says His mercy endures forever.

Does God no longer keep His promises?

Has God forgotten to be gracious? Is God having memory problems?

Has God ceased being compassionate and is now only angry?

None of these things were consisted with the character of God. Asaph knew that. SO why ask these questions? Perhaps asking the questions helped him see the absurdity in his thoughts. It is good for us to make a fool of ourselves sometimes. It’s good for us to challenge our own doubts. It will do us good to see how foolish we sound.

Asaph reasoned with himself saying:

You’re saying God is a deserter.

You’re saying God isn’t merciful.

You’re saying God is a promise breaker.

You’re saying God isn’t gracious.

You’re saying God isn’t compassionate.

Asaph knows that isn’t true.

3. A corrected soul (10-15).

A. A corrected memory (10-12).

It’s interesting that before his memory of God didn’t help him, it only added to his sorrow (3). But now his memory moves him to a proper place. Why is that? Its perspective. Before he was longing to go back. Now he has changed his perspective. He understands that God has not only been faithful, but God will be faithful as well. We should remember that the greatest days of the Christian lie ahead. No matter how great your memories of the past are, your greatest days lie ahead. The reason for that is simple, we are going to heaven.

Asaph is going to remember the mighty deeds of God. This probably relates to Israel’s history, as we’ll see later in the Psalm. There’s a lesson for us as well. Knowing the Bible will help us in our times of trouble. Knowing the wonderful acts of God in both the OT and NT serves as a great spiritual tool. We should meditate on the power, love and mercy of God as recorded in Scripture. The Bible is a historically accurate book.

The people in it are real people.

The miracles in it are real miracles.

The promises in it are real promises.

Meditating on these things will help us overcome doubt and sorrow. That’s one of the reasons it’s so important to know your Bible. You will know sorrow. You may or may not know your Bible. That’s up to you.

B. A corrected view of God (13-15).

There are no more foolish questions. Asaph is now thinking correctly about God. Let’s look at three things we see about God in verses 13-15:

The holiness of God (13). The sanctuary revealed the holiness of God. In fact, if the wrong person came into the holy of holies they would die (Lev. 16:2). Israel’s God was not like any other God. He was altogether different. They understood the holiness of God. God does not sin, nor does He tolerate sin.

The power of God (14). Asaph recognizes that God does wonders. He declares His strength among His people. These manifestations of power also demonstrate His love for His people. The water came from the rock because He loves His people. The red Sea split because He loves His people.

The faithfulness of God (15). God has powerfully redeemed His people. The Jewish people owed their existence to their Redeemer. He had redeemed them from Egypt and continued to show Himself faithful. The believer cannot but think of Jesus when he reads verses like this. Jesus has powerfully redeemed us from our sins, death and the devil.

The trouble in Asaph’s soul has not erased his memory of who God really is. Truth has corrected his faulty thinking.

4. An encouraged soul (16-20).

A. Encouraged by his invincible God (16-18).

Asaph uses poetic language to describe the Exodus. Of course, he wasn’t there when the Lord split the red Sea and led Israel to safety. But he had read about it. He describes a thunderstorm that accompanied it. Exodus doesn’t say that but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. By the guidance of the Holy Spirit it may be we are getting more information than Moses gave us.

Asaph describes God’s power here as greater than nature. The water saw God coming, leading Israel and the water was so afraid it parted. That’s the imagery given in verse 16. Of course, the language is poetic, but it’s brilliant poetic language, I think we can agree.

In verses 17-18 we see the sky was filled with rain and lightning and thunder. All of these things are symbolic of the judgment of God. God’s judgment was coming from the heavens and for the Egyptian army. The earth even shook. Perhaps all of this was a warning for the Egyptians. If it was, they did not listen. They drove their chariots feverishly toward God’s people.

Thinking of God’s power over His enemies encouraged Asaph. It ought to encourage us as well. We have far more stories to think upon. Our invincible God has made Himself known through Christ casting out demons, raising the dead, healing the sick, and destroying the greatest enemy of all, Satan himself.

B. Encouraged by his invisible God (19-20).

Asaph likens God to a Shepherd leading His people through Moses and Aaron. They, as sheep, followed the Lord. He led them to the edge of the sea. The invisible God parted the sea and led them through. When they got to the other side the Egyptians started down the same path they had traveled. When the entire army was between those walls of water God let the walls of water go. The Egyptian army was consumed. They all drowned.

Looking over the now calm ocean, what did they see? They didn’t see anything but an ocean. Look at the end of verse 19. The footsteps of God were not seen. There was no proof He had even been there. But all the Jews knew He had been there. They may not have seen their God, but they saw their God’s work.

Listen to me friend, you will never see the footsteps of God, but you will always see His handiwork. It’s as clear as day. Just as God led the Israelites through the unknown waters of the red Sea, God will lead us through the unknown waters of trouble and sorrow. When He does, we shouldn’t be looking for His footprints. They will not be seen. But His presence will be obvious.

Asaph began this Psalm troubled. It seemed he was saying to the Lord “Show yourself!” He ends this Psalm encouraged and understanding the footprints of God are not seen. Yet it’s clear God has been with us. How would we be where we are if the Lord were not with us?