Psalms

Psalms 77: God steadies faith through remembered wonders

Begin in prayer

Before we hear Asaph's sleepless questions, let us remember the saving works God has given us to consider. Ask the Redeemer for faith through Christ, remembering His mighty works when comfort feels far away.

Yahweh, I have heard of your fame. I stand in awe of your deeds, Yahweh. Renew your work in the middle of the years. In the middle of the years make it known. In wrath, you remember mercy.

Habakkuk 3:2

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that God's saving works give His troubled people reason to trust Him when His way is hidden. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Asaph cries to God through a sleepless night, stretching out his hand while his soul refuses comfort. Remembering God brings groaning, and his distress becomes too heavy for words. He asks whether the Lord has rejected His people forever, lost His loving kindness or forgotten to be gracious. Then he resolves to remember the wonders of God's mighty hand and consider all His works. The memory centres on the redemption of Jacob and Joseph, when the waters trembled before God and His way passed through the sea. Though His footsteps could not be traced, He led His people like a flock through the hands of Moses and Aaron.

As you read Psalms 77, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God remains the mighty Redeemer whose remembered deeds give His troubled people reason to trust His hidden way.

Asaph's stretched hand pictures prayer that continues through the night while comfort remains hard to receive. Even remembering God brings pain because the sufferer cannot reconcile present distress with the kindness he has known. He traces his wakefulness to God's hand and searches the old songs for an answer to his fearful questions. Those questions voice the dread of losing God's favour, loving kindness, promise and compassion, the gifts on which his hope depends. His appeal turns toward the years of the Most High's right hand, choosing to remember God's deeds when feelings cannot supply rest. God's way in the sanctuary places that search before the holy Lord whose strength has been made known among the peoples. The redemption of Jacob and Joseph recalls the rescue from Egypt, joining every tribe under the same saving arm. The sea and storm are pictured trembling before their Maker, whose path through deep waters gave His people a way to walk. Unseen footsteps belong to the God who led the flock through Moses and Aaron, teaching trust in His guidance beyond what can be traced.

How does Psalm 77 show us that God remains the mighty Redeemer whose remembered deeds give His troubled people reason to trust His hidden way?

God's troubled people may bring Him their hardest questions.

Asaph prays through the night and cannot receive comfort. His questions fear that God's favour and promise have vanished. He brings that pain to the Lord whose mercy he longs to know again.

God's remembered works give faith a firmer place to rest.

Asaph chooses to consider the wonders by which God redeemed His people. The sea trembled before the Lord and opened a path for His flock. His footsteps were hidden, yet the people were led safely by His saving power.

Memorise

You are the God who does wonders. You have made your strength known among the peoples.

Psalm 77:14

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what work of Jesus do I need to remember in my present trouble?

Asaph resolves, “I will remember your wonders of old.” His questions have been painful and his night has brought no rest. He turns toward the saving God whose way through the sea could be trusted while His footsteps remained unseen.

Our troubled hearts also need an answer for the guilt no memory can erase. Jesus gave His life as a ransom for His people, receiving the punishment their sins deserved. God raised Him to life. His finished work cannot be undone, and the mighty Redeemer whose deeds they remember has forgiven and welcomed His people.

Turn from your sin and rely on Jesus. His living presence gives every sinner who trusts Him a sure promise of pardon. Remember His death and resurrection when distress makes the Lord's kindness hard to see. Through a sleepless night, the Redeemer receives His believing people's questions and gives them reason to follow His unseen path.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God's saving works give His troubled people reason to trust Him when His way is hidden. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for His remembered saving works and for the guidance His people cannot always trace. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

John 16:4

God who redeemed Your people, please hear the questions and grief we bring before You. Lead us to Jesus for pardon and give us faith to remember His death and resurrection. Comfort Your people through sleepless nights and guide them where Your path is hard to trace. Thank You that Your saving works remain true when our feelings cannot find rest. Amen.