Psalm 77

Reflecting upon God’s care will show us a God of love and mercy who is faithful to meet each of our needs.

The Psalms are a rich storehouse of God’s blessing. They have several styles; the Psalm we consider today is a lament. One of the characteristics of a lament is an expression of emotion, the opposite of a Praise Psalm. It is an expression of heartfelt honesty with God about what is taking place in one’s life. Sometimes it is in the form of a complaint.

An interesting characteristic of this type of Psalm is that it almost always ends in turning to God in confidence. Let’s look at this Psalm today in the context of seeing what to do in times of trouble.

• You reach out to God (Psalm 77:10)
  • The search for God (Psalm 77:1-4)
    • Seeking the right source (Psalm 77:1)
    • The right attitude (Psalm 77:2)
  • The question (Psalm 77:5-9)
    • Our distress often causes to ask
      • Will the Lord cast off forever?
      • Will the Lord be favorable no more?
      • Is his mercy gone forever?
      • Does his promise fail forevermore?
      • Has the Lord forgotten to be gracious?
      • Did he shut up his tender mercies in anger?
    • In His providence, God knows how much joy and sorrow, how much pleasure and pain, how much prosperity and poverty is proper for His child. He knows the correct balance of sunshine and storm, the precise mixture of darkness and light it takes to make a perfect son. Richard Halverson
• You reflect on God’s care (Psalm 11-20)
  • His work is wondrous
    • Miracles (Psalm 77: 11 & 14)
    • Giving of the laws to Moses (Psalm 77:17 – 18)
    • Deliverance from the sea (Psalm 77:19)
  • God uses others to assist (Psalm 77:20)
• You recommit to trust and follow God

The basis of this trust is you remember a God who is identified is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

A Little Sparrow (Author Unknown)

I am only a little sparrow!

A bird of low degree;

My life is of little value,

But the dear Lord cares for me

He gave me a coat of feathers.

‘Tis very plain I know;

With never a speck of crimson,

For it was not made for show.

But, it keeps me warm in winter;

It shields me from rain;

Were it bordered with gold and purple

Perhaps it would make me vain.

I have no barn or storehouse;

I never sow or reap;

God gives me a sparrow’s portion.

But never a seed to keep.

If my meat is sometimes scanty,

Close picking makes it sweet;

I have always enough to keep me

And “life is more than meat.”

I know there are many sparrows;

All over the world they’re found;

But our Heavenly Father knoweth

When one of us falls to the ground.

Though small,  are never forgotten.

Though weak, we are never afraid.

For we know that the dear Lord keepeth

The lives of the creatures He made.

I fly through the thickest forest.

I light on many a spray.

I have no chart or compass.

But I never lose my way.