Psalm 77

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Asaph Calls on the Lord and Receives Comfort

(Transcript not available - coming soon)

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Doubts arise during times of distress.

  2. Reassurance comes during times of remembrance.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Follow God’s footprints.

QUESTIONS

  1. Who was Jeduthun, mentioned in the title of this psalm?

  2. How do we know that the distress Asaph was experiencing affected him very personally?

  3. Give one New Testament passage that assures us our salvation can never be lost (there are many!).

  4. Based on verses 9-10, what was Asaph’s conclusion regarding why God had withdrawn His compassion?

  5. What change occurs in the second half of Psalm 77?

ANSWERS

  1. Jeduthun was one of the choir directors appointed by David to lead in public worship (1 Chronicles 16:37-42).

  2. We see that the first half of Psalm 77 is very introspective. The personal pronouns “I, me and my” are used over 20 times in the first 10 verses. There is more concern and mention of self than dependence on the Lord in the first half of this psalm.

  3. John 10:27-28

  4. Asaph concluded that God had allowed the distress and had withdrawn His compassion because He was angry with some sinful condition and was using the distress as discipline.

  5. The psalm is no longer introspective. For the last ten verses, the personal pronoun “I” is only used four times, whereas the nouns and pronouns for God are used more than 20 times. Asaph shifts to remembering the works and wonders of the Lord.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Review the five doubts Asaph raised concerning God’s goodness and sovereign ways. When have you as a believer experienced similar doubts? -Has God rejected me? -Does God still love me? -Are God’s promises still good? -Has God forgotten to be gracious? -Is God angry with me?

  2. The key to Asaph’s transition from doubt to assurance was remembering the great acts of God in the past. Discuss these two presuppositions to keep in mind regarding God’s great past works: -God is holy and therefore whatever He does is right. -In all of God’s great works ultimately He had the blessing and benefit of His people in view.

CHALLENGE

  1. Asaph started Psalm 77 needing to be counseled. Asaph ends Psalm 77 as a counselor. The key to his transition was remembering and thinking through the great works and wonders of God. Will you have a change of heart like this?

KEY VERSES

  • “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing.” Psalm 77:2

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



Old Testament, Psalms, TalksDeb HarmsPsalm 77