Psalm 77

With the Corona virus our life has changed, the environment around us has changed, life is different, there is uncertainty, there is also an amount of fear. In such a situation are you feeling close to God? or do you feel that God is far away? How do you feel about the new environment we live in? Do you long for the days before Corvid – 19? In such situations how do you keep your relationship afresh with God?  Maybe these questions have gone through our mind, maybe we have just got along with the present context.  

            Psalm 77 can be split into two parts. V1-12 is about the Psalmists doubt. V 13-20 is an expressions of God’s love.

In the first part v1-9 the Psalmist is in deep trouble, and is searching for God. He is looking upto heaven and pleading, he is too distressed to sleep. And then he thinks of the good old day. And then is questioning God. Why does the Psalmist raise question?  Look at the questions that he asks.  (7-9)

Has the Lord rejected me forever?

Will he never again show his favour?

Is his unfailing love gone forever?

Has his promised failed?

Has God forgotten to be kind?

Has he slammed the door on his compassion?

During the last few months, I know many who have asked such questions. These are questions that we ask when we doubt God, his love, his goodness, God’s favour and all what he has done for us. You read God’s word, you already know his good works in your life, yet you are doubting because you don’t receive a response to your present situation.  

Then in verse 10-12 remembering God’s good deeds, he is wondering if the hands that blessed him has changed

In the next section 13-20 he goes down memory lane remembering God. the God of his ancestors. The God of history. God is awesome. The psalmist who at the end of the first section says God must be hating me. Now he is reflecting on what God has done in the past.

When we look at this section we understand that God is a God of wonders, God is a God of miracles. What God does is not something her does once in a way. God’s works are expressions of his love, his mercy and his compassion.

If you have questions and doubt God’s works, if you have been praying and feel that God is not answering your prayer, if the Corona virus and its impact has caused you ask questions, to doubt, then pause for a moment. Look back. Look at all the great and mighty deeds of God in the bible.

Remember all what God has been doing in your own life over the past. Don’t think negative. Look to God in faith, trusting in his love and favour. As we read in verse 19 God has the capacity to make a pathway a road through mighty waters and see you through. When the Israelites had the Egyptians behind them and the sea in front God creates a pathway to safety. When the storms are raging and the winds are howling, Jesus wakes up and stills the storms.

Remember that God doesn’t abandon us, God doesn’t let us down. Look ahead and look down to see in which direction God is making your path.

Most often when problems strike, when God seems far away, rather than looking in the direction of God, and or looking down for the path, we look around. That’s when we go in search of magicians, soothsayers. Suddenly we find some rope around the wrist, a lime hanging on a vehicle, some small piece of metal hanging in the corner of our homes.

Our trust our hope our faith is in the what can be seen. But the psalmist teaches us a good lesson to remember that our God is an awesome God and he always has our best interest in his heart. And his timing is always perfect.

This evening let us go back with one assurance in our mind, be it the corona virus or its impact, or if it some problem that is troubling you, of even if it a sickness, God is in control he still commands the waves and the storms.  They are obedient to Him.

May God bless you and help you to keep focus on God, who never fails.