“I Cried Unto God”
Psalm 77:1-20
7-16-2023 AM
We are once again looking at prayers in the Bible.
Psalm 77 is a prayer that we do not know the origin of nor do we know the reason or occasion to which it was written.
It was delivered to the chief Musician and was called a psalm of Asaph
Superscription.—“To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, a Psalm of Asaph.”
Asaph was the founder of a family of singers, who went by the name of the sons of Asaph, even in the time of Isaiah, even in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.
All the sacred compositions of the members of this family were designated songs of Asaph, just as in the title of the 62. Psalm, Jeduthun stands for the Jeduthunic choir.
Although we do not know the author of this Psalm it is certain that the Holy Spirit is the foundation and inspiration and we rejoice that we may look at this text today.
The Psalm is set in three sections and we will look at each one.
First: Man’s Trouble And Deliverer, Psa_77:1-3.
Second: The Godly Soul In Distress, Psa_77:4-9.
Third: The Godly Soul Rising Victorious, Psa_77:10-20.
I. Man’s Trouble And Deliverer
Psalm 77:1-3 “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.”
Our first look into this text we see a cry for help.
To whom does he cry?
To Jehovah God.
I love that when we are in distress that we have the opportunity to call out to God.
I do believe that there is not one person here that can say that they have never had troubles.
We all have so this prayer means something.
Vs. 1 “I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.”
Voice – to speak out loud. To make a noise.
We need to be willing to pore out our hearts and lives to the only one who can do something about it.
Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
When the phone system was being built the number you called was relayed through an operator and you would tell them a letter number combination and then you would be connected to the party in which you needed to speak to.
God’s number is Jeremiah 33:3
If we call HE (God) will answer. No angle will pick up the prayer and relay a message to God.
He is never too busy for His children.
And he gave ear unto me. – I’m am so excited that God gives His ear to me.
He will never not hear us.
He will never neglect us
Imagine God when we call upon Him tells everyone else, “Step back my child is speaking and this is important.”
Vs. 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.
Trouble - distress, affliction, adversity, anguish, tribulation, adversary
I believe we see so many descriptions because God does not limit when and how we may call unto Him.
My sore – hand, or part, portion.
To be filled with pain.
This is not just physical but also spiritual as well.
In the night - Why would the Psalmist mention “in the night?”
Because when we are alone is when the devil will start his run of “pity me” and we have no one to comfort us.
Satan works best without light so we should expect his attack when we least expect it.
Ceased not - to grow numb, be feeble,
My soul refused to be comforted - to be sorry, be moved to pity, have compassion
Vs. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
Remembered - to recall, be reminded, to mention
I complained - to put forth, mediate, muse, commune, speak, complain, ponder, sing
I have been told many times that we should not ask God “why.”
Yet we have this Psalm that tells us that the man who is going through his trouble is calling unto the Lord and complaining.
My spirit - (of the living, breathing being in man) seat of emotions.
Overwhelmed - to turn aside, to turn aside, to be feeble or faint.
This man is simply beside himself with nowhere to go.
But GOD!
Selah - a technical musical term probably showing pause, or interruption
He is so overwhelmed that he stops.
How often do we just stop?
It is important to rest from time to time but to give up is to give in and I would not want the devil to get the victory!
II. The Godly Soul In Distress
Psalm 77:4-9 “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.”
7 things in verses 4-6 that the Psalmist brings through his thoughts.
6 questions that he asks in verses 7-9.
I am not going to spend a great deal of time on this section.
We all have questions and doubts when we are in the middle of troubles.
Of that I am certain.
To make questions and have doubts are real, but will we live in this moment or is there an answer?
Praise God for HIS answers.
III. The Godly Soul Rising Victorious
Psalm 77:10-20 “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.
Though we go through trials each day.
I am certain the answer is not to dwell on the trial but to dwell on the LORD.
2 times remember is said and once meditate is spoken of.
Use the thought process in which the Lord has given us and discover WHO is in charge! God is
Vs. 13&14 tells us that we need fellowship not only with God but with God’s people that are in church.
Vss. 15-20 remind us who is in charge of ALL!
Conclusion:
Been in any troubles where you are not sure where you are or where you will turn?
We can either dwell on the problems or we can rejoice in the God of the solution.
The earth trembles when God shows up.
I have no strength in myself, but I have the Lord.
He is my Salvation
He is my Shield
He is my Strength
He is my Sight
He is God and HE is enough!!!!!
