My Soul Refuses To Be Comforted

My soul refuses to be comforted (Psalm 77)

• Coddling of the American Mind
• Why is it so hard to pray?

“Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden.”― Corrie Ten Boom

Psalm 77

77 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.

Psalm 77

• Book 3
• Attributed to Asaph
• Lament Psalm
• Cry (v1) >>> Thunder (v18)
• “I” Psalmist (v1-12) >>> “You” God (v12-20)
• Remembering x 4

Psalm 77

1. Expressing the distress
2. Asking questions
3. Remembering our great God
4. Following the leading of God

1. Expressing the Distress <v1-4>

Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”  In all this Job did not sin with his lips. (Job 2:10)

11 God gives me up to the ungodly and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces;
he set me up as his target;  (Job 16:11-12)

2. Asking Questions <v5-9>

Exodus 34:6-7

 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.

3. Remembering our great God (v10-18)

Exodus 15:11

“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
    Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
    awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

4. Following the leading of God (v19-20)

1 King 19:11-12

11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.

In the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; (v2)

10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
    to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” (v10)

15 You with your arm redeemed your people,
    the children of Jacob and Joseph. (v15)

20 You led your people like a flock
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron. (v20)

Still refused to be comforted?

• We are not immersing ourselves in prayers but in pleasures.
• Our desire is for human comfort that is free from suffering, not for God’s comfort in the midst of suffering.

Christ, our great shepherd.

Reflection:

• Do you have the tendency to think that suffering and pain can be totally avoided in life? How does that shape your outlook towards life?
• How have your faith grown through the processing of sufferings in your prayers?
• Are you able to express your distress and ask questions to God easily in prayers? Or is it easier to direct them to other people? Why do you think that is the case?
• Have you seen how God answers your prayers or leads you through ordinary human leaders?