I know the human writer is Asaph.

In fact, I’d like to some day preach a whole Revival using as my Text each evening … one of the Psalms of Asaph, this godly man! There are 12 of them, according to the superscripts anyway. Those being Psalm 50, then consecutively Psalms 73 through 83.

In more than one of his compositions (again, 12 Holy Spirit inspired Poems or Hymns) this little lover of our Lord (Asaph) speaks of the benefits of going to the House of God!

For example, Psalm 73:17, in part. “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I ….” Yes, many things are understood, or better understood, when in attendance at some local Assembly, some Bible-preaching Church!

Now today, in our verse, Psalm 77:13 … we see the same phenomenon yet again. “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?”

Wow!

Asaph sincerely believes this. God is best illuminated in the place where He is worshipped, in His “sanctuary!” His very “way” is found there! The noun translated “way” is “derek” in Hebrew, signifying one’s “manner, habit, course of life,” as well as “road, path, journey.”

Another Psalmist expressed this same Truth in the following verbiage. “For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” Psalm 36:9

Get yourself where God’s Light is to be found (the Sanctuary … the Holy Place) … and you will surely “see light,” His very “Light!”

And as soon as Asaph gets back to God’s House … he assuredly asks (already knowing the Answer) … “Who is so great a God as our God?”

Amen!

David, when away from Jerusalem (due to persecution or matters of business) longed for God’s House! “How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee.” Psalm 84:1-4

Next time you’re at Church … don’t just sing! Or listen to the Sunday School Lesson! Or just take notes during the Sermon! Or fellowship with those who sit near you!

THINK!

THINK ABOUT GOD!

ASK HIS HOLY SPIRIT FOR GUIDANCE, DIRECTION, ILLUMINATION!

BASK IN HIS GLORY!

Prove in your own life … “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?”

WORSHIP!

Learning God’s Ways … at God’s House!

Sure makes sense, doesn’t it?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

We have all heard of meditating on God’s Word. But what about meditating on God’s Work? What an idea!

Listen to Asaph, the intellectual Psalmist. “I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” Psalm 77:12 is our Text here.

The verb “meditate” is itself quite interesting. “Hagah” it is spelled. It actually means “to moan, to groan, to growl” … then more practically, “to speak.” But most often “to speak in low, often undiscernible tones.”

To talk sort of “under one’s breath.”

And the word is only used 25 times in the entire Bible!

Next … God’s “work” is “poal” in Hebrew. God’s “deeds,” the things He has “enacted.”

Like the sunrise!

Or the full moon!

Or the orbit of Pluto!

To see God macroscopically (in big things) or microscopically (in small things) … to watch what God has created … is astounding.

Upon proper inspection, His “doings” indeed make one “talk” a lot! Or at least they should! The human heart, or brain … why there’s enough wonder and skill there to talk and think a lifetime!

“I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.”

See also how the Holy Spirit aligns “meditate” with “talk?” They are actually parallel in this verse. And the verb “talk” here is “siyach,” the other Bible verb for “meditating!” It means “to muse, study, ponder,” then “to speak or declare.”

Captivated by God!

Amazed!

Overwhelmed, overcome!

So … suddenly He is all you can think … or discuss!

Quite a change from Asaph’s earlier words!

Let’s try this technique today, Asaph’s strategy.

This morning I’m flying home from a Revival Meeting. And as I see the clouds outside my window (yes, always a window seat if possible) or notice some river or lake below (not a seat over the wing, please) … I plan to “meditate” on God’s beautiful works!

And when I get home, I’ll tell Debbie about what I saw and the Lord Who designed it all. She calls Him “our Wonderful Creator,” in fact.

“I will meditate also of all thy work, Lord, and talk of thy doings.”

Truthfully, this can be done anytime, anywhere!

And it sure beats morbid introspection!

Occupation with Christ!

By the way, meditate some on how He saved you too!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

OUR STUDY OF PSALM 77 CONTINUES …

But with, finally, a “positive” verse of Scripture!

After a litany of sad proclamations. Let me show you what I mean. “I (Asaph, the Psalmist in this case) 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.” Wow, how very honest, telling God all that! I’ve just shared with you Psalm 77:1-10.

Then, believing that “remembering” God, His Great Works, might help the situation … Asaph declares: “I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.” Psalm 77:11, where something good obviously happens.

Good?

Yes!

In the first clause of our Verse Asaph is taking ABOUT God. “I will remember the works of the LORD.” But in the second clause he “changes” and begins to talk TO God! “Surely I will remember Thy wonders of old.”

Big difference, between ABOUT and TO, powerful but clearly distinguishing prepositions!

“Thy Wonders,” O Lord.

Maybe God’s “works” like creation!

Or Noah’s flood!

Or the Tower at Babel!

But especially, as we shall see, the Exodus!

The Crossing of the Red Sea by hundreds of thousands of Jews … safely escaping (miraculously) the clutches of an advancing Egyptian army!

And God did those mighty things … on behalf of His people!

Israel!

Both great and small, men and women, boys and girls.

Then … clearly realizing that this God is “knowable,” and “caring,” while still “powerful” as well … Asaph addresses Him.  “Surely I will remember Thy wonders of old.”

If God can (and did) deliver a whole Nation … maybe that God could also deliver one single man!

He is worthy of consideration, then, of reflection and meditation.

Yes, surely … I will do so, resolves Asaph.

And things “start flowing upward” from there.

“God, Thou hast done some great things!”

“I shall reflect on many of them today!”

IF YOU SEE GOD AS BIG AS HE REALLY IS … YOUR PROBLEM WILL AUTOMATICALLY APPEAR SMALLER … IN COMPARISON TO THAT AWESOME LORD OF YOURS!

“I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.” Psalm 77:11

The little noun “wonders” is “pele” in Hebrew. It means “hard” things to understand. Things that cause one to “marvel.” Extraordinary, surpassing!

Yes, our God can perform such “wonders.” He himself says so. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3, inviting us to pray! Really, commanding us to do so.

Wow!

Do YOU Have problems today, friend?

Much like Asaph?

Bring them to Jesus.

He too, you know, has an admirable list of “works” attributed to His Name!

Virgin Birth!

Sinless life!

Substitutionary Death on Calvary!

Literal, Bodily Resurrection!

Ascension to Heaven!

And Intercessory Ministry there now … for those who “come to God by Him!” See Hebrews 7:25 for the full sentence.

Plus … His Second Coming!

The Saviour Who has done all THAT … certainly can help you in all THIS which you’re battling!

Amen!

Talk to Him today.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today we reach the half-way point in our journey through Psalm 77. We’re now going to notice verse 10, with 10 more verses awaiting attention.

Listen to Asaph, our “philosophical” but “godly” writer.

“And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.” A personal testimony, Psalm 77:10.

This man, a staunch believer in the Lord, has been suffering greatly. Both emotionally and physically it seems. But he has (wisely) decided that whatever has come his way … God has governed every iota of it all!

And his “troubles” (verse 2) and “sores” (still verse 2) and “sleeplessness” (verse 4) and “rejection” (verse 7) and “doubt” (verse 8) … are all to be lumped into one category! “Infirmity,” just “burdens” God has allowed him (Asaph) to bear!

Sort or like Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” maybe.

“This is my infirmity …”

The noun “infirmity” (in Hebrew “chalah”) means “weakness, sickness, pain, wound, grief” … all “assignments” from God!

Listen to Jeremiah in Lamentations 3:27. The same idea Asaph is presenting us, I think. “It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.”

Wow!

“Hard times,” for the child of God?

Yes, maybe to help us pray more!

To help us become better “soldiers” of the Cross, as in boot-camp!

Surely as well, to help prepare us to better support (have empathy for) others who will later go through the same trials we have experienced!

Also to help us better identify with the “sufferings” of our Savior!

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

What will help me to better bear any “infirmity” God sends?

Remembering the Lord!

His eternality, the endless number of “years” of His Being! In fact, He is undoubtedly outside the very realm of time!

And God’s “Right Hand?”

Yes.

Which usually in Scripture signifies God’s Power! As in Exodus 15:6 here. “Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.”

Asaph is considering his “trials” as “blessings” now. And is keeping his eyes on the Lord God Almighty!

And soon … no longer complaining (verse 3) … this Psalmist will be praising (verse 13) God with all his heart!

Amen!

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

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Asaph has really been “down.”

Much like Jonah was, and Elijah and even Jeremiah, during their days of discouragement. Maybe even John the Baptist as well!

Read three verses from Psalm 77. “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.” Verses 7-9, practically a stanza!

Today, in our clause by clause journey through the Poem, we stop to observe that last series of questions. “Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?” Remember, this is verse 9.

“To forget” implies (in Hebrew “shakach”) “ignoring” something or someone! “Ceasing to care,” says one lexicon. And the adjective “gracious” (spelled “chanan” in its root) means “to pity,” but especially in the sense of answered prayer. In one of its two Bible uses, “intreated” is the translation, King James Version.

Has God lost interest in answering prayer? So reasons, so wonders Asaph!

Is God angry, mad?

Here “aph” in Hebrew means “anger,” their word literally for the human “nose, nostril!” Almost as if God is so upset He is snorting, breathing very hard, noticeably so!

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

To “shut up” means “to draw together,” like tying the strings on a garbage bag or lacing one’s shoes. Has God ceased opening the windows of Heaven? Is He pouring forth no more blessings?

And His “tender mercies” are His “racham” (just pluralized) once again, the normal noun for “intestines or womb or insides!” His “most intimate” Feelings!

No doubt our little psalmist is under “pressure.”

Going through “hard times.”

BUT PLEASE NOTICE … HE IS STILL TALKING ABOUT HIS GOD AND (MOST IMPORTANTLY) TO HIS GOD!

This is the same man who later will, later in this same Psalm, utter: “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?”

Wow!

Many afflictions … but apparently, great deliverance!

Psalm 34:19 is always true, one way or another. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.”

Amen.

Take courage, dear friend today.

Through Christ, victory is in your future!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell