O God, Where Art Thou? (Psalm 77:1-20, 2 Corinthians 1:3-11)
Rev. Tim Leslie, June 11, 2023Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Mother Theresa was in a dark place spiritually throughout her ministry. The Bible reveals everything, both bright and dark times. There is trouble in life. We see this in Psalm 77, yet we don't know the psalmist's circumstances. He cries out to God, using "voice" two times. He is crying like a little child, but he finds no comfort. The narrows of life had funneled him into a vise. He lifts hands in prayer with tears flowing. Have you felt despair recently as did the psalmist? He began with God, not with himself. He groaned and then mused (contemplated). He felt feeble and faint. He could not sleep, and he considered the former days, perhaps not with clarity. In tumult, he feels like growling. His conclusion: Where is God's favor? He questions every attribute of God. Now in vs. 10, the psalmist pivots. He resolves to remember the deeds of the Lord, to His Word, His revelation and His action. He goes from a "me" focus to God's Word and acts. In vss. 13-20, he considers God's holy ways, leading Moses and Aaron through the wilderness and the Red Sea parting. He focused on God's mighty power and graciousness. He stops with his inner musings. The great God is more than the God of the past; He is God of the present. He remembers, the righteous cry out, and the Lord delivers them from their trouble (Psalm 34). The scriptures do not gloss over our pain. Through His word, He directs us back to Him. We must witness to God's graciousness. Life is hard and painful. But we are not going to muse on our inner pain, but on God's power.
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| « Why Move From Encouragement To Judgment? | None | The Coming Deliverance For God's People » |
Psalm 77 (Listen)
To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.
77:1 I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, and he will hear me.
2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.
3 When I remember God, I moan;
when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah
4 You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I consider the days of old,
the years long ago.
6 I said, “Let me remember my song in the night;
let me meditate in my heart.”
Then my spirit made a diligent search:
7 “Will the Lord spurn forever,
and never again be favorable?
8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
Are his promises at an end for all time?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah
10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples.
15 You with your arm redeemed your people,
the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16 When the waters saw you, O God,
when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
indeed, the deep trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water;
the skies gave forth thunder;
your arrows flashed on every side.
18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lighted up the world;
the earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was through the sea,
your path through the great waters;
yet your footprints were unseen.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
(ESV)
2 Corinthians 1:3–11 (Listen)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
(ESV)