Asaph, the author of Psalm 77

As we saw in the previous post, the author of Psalm 77 was in a dark place. In verses  7-9 he expresses his deep despair.

"Will the Lord reject forever?

And will He never be favorable again?

Has His lovingkindness ceased forever?

Has His promise come to an end forever?

Has God forgotten to be gracious

Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion?

Then I said, 'It is my grief

That the right hand of the Most High had changed.'"

What was the writer of Psalm 77 going through that caused such despair? The author of Psalm 77 is believed to be a man named Asaph. He was the director of music as King David's Tent of Meeting and at Solomon's temple. He probably wrote much of the music that accompanied David's Psalms. He held that position at least until the dedication of Solomon's temple, probably for about 40 years. He lived during the reigns of David, Solomon and Solomon's son Rehoboam.

I remember feeling just like Asaph expressed above after 9/11. It seemed that life in our country would never be secure or happy again. We have lived an incredibly blessed life here and enjoyed the American dream. I thought, "is all that over?" "Will my family love a secure life, or is all hope now gone?

Without understanding Asaph's life and times, we can't fully comprehend Psalm 77. Serving under David, he knew of the great promise that God gave David that his descendant would reign over the throne in Jerusalem forever. He had to have been very close to David. He lived through seeing David fall in to sin with Bathsheba. He experienced David's grief and observed the grace of God on David's life. He grieved over David's death, and rejoiced with all of Israel as David's son Solomon built the glorious temple. Like many, he probably assumed that Solomon was the messiah and that the Millennial Kingdom was beginning. He rejoiced over the wisdom and glory of Solomon's reign, only to be devastated when Solomon turned his back on God and pursued power, wealth, women and human wisdom, as well as worship of other gods.  There is good reason to believe that Asaph's brother, Zechariah (not the prophet) was assassinated by Solomon's agents for not keeping silent about Solomon's wickedness. Asaph saw Israel torn in two and then the temple stripped by an invasion of Egyptians.  No wonder he was depressed! Asaph's times were much more dire and dangerous than even the beginning of our War on Terror.

It is amazing to see though, that, in his deep despair, Asaph knew God! He knew God's character--his mercy, lovingkindness, compassion. Because he knew God, he could not understand God's seeming silence. He assumed that, since he could not see God working in his situation, that something must be wrong!  He expected God's presence to be with him and did not understand why it seemed that God was no where to be found! How did Asaph know that he could pour out his heart like that to God? Remember this man worshipped with David. He had witnessed David's heart-wrenching repentance as expressed in Psalm 51. Because Asaph knew God, the mood of the psalm changes dramatically in verse 11 when Asaph made a decision to REMEMBER God.

Remembering the Lord

Have you ever been puzzled by trials? Discouraged by unanswered prayer? Wondered if God is still interested in your problems? Asked God “are you still there?

If so, you are not unlike the author of Psalm 77. Many of the Psalms were written by King David, but this one is thought to be written by David's Chief Musician, Asaph. Asaph lived in a horrendous time in Israel's history. There is no doubt that he was in great distress. He did not understand why God was not responding to his prayers. He wrote in verses 7- 9

“Will the Lord cast off forever? And will he be favourable no more? Is His mercy clean gone forever? Doth His promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?”

Each one of us has been in a place like this, probably many times. A time when we ask, "What happened, Lord? Where are you?” A trial that we think we cannot bear. We remember God's faithfulness to us in the past and wonder if we will never know that again. Is it all over for me? Will I ever know joy again?

The death of a loved one. A serious diagnosis. A deep disappointment. Even the gradual wearing down of our spirits as we deal with the problems of this world--yet another day. There have been times in my life that I  understood why the writer of Psalm 77 asked if God had forgotten to be gracious! But as I read verse 10, he seemed to gain new strength, declaring “BUT I WILL REMEMBER the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.”

What did the psalmist REMEMBER about God? The word “remember” is used often in the Bible. Sometimes I complain that I am losing my memory because I lose keys or forget names, but in the Bible the word “remember” means much more than that. It means to recall, to remember with favor, and to meditate on. Remembering was a part of worship. People in the Old Testament often built memorials to help them remember, as Joshua set up twelve memorial stones by the Jordan River to remind the people that God had kept his promise and brought them into the Promised Land. (Joshua 4:7)

If you know me, you remember certain things about me. My name. Am I quiet? Friendly? If you got to know me better, you might begin to observe my character. Am I honest? Am I kind? Am I loyal? Can you depend on me? What is my personality? If I have written you letters, you know what I have said about myself. What would this writer of Psalms know about God to remember?

Well, God chose to reveal Himself to and through the descendants of Abraham, the Israelite people. He brought them out of slavery in Egypt, gave them the law through Moses and brought them into the Promised Land. Through these events and the written accounts of them, God revealed Himself. He told them His many names. In Bible times, a name was more than a name—it represented the person’s character. It told you something about that person.

 The psalmist, the writer of Psalm 77, would remember:

•  God’s Word: what God said about Himself through the law and the prophets 
•  God’s character: what God is like: his faithfulness, His love, His mercy…
•  God’s name: He is Jehovah, the one true God, the majestic and all powerful God
•  God’s ways: Every story in the Bible teaches us about how God acts. 
•  God's past acts of faithfulness to us.

In fact, when this psalmist decided to “Remember the Lord”, he could not help but worship Him! In verse 13, as he remembers the Lord, he declares “who is so great a God as our God? Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.” He went on to remember how God parted the Red Sea, drowning the Egyptians and delivering God’s people from slavery.

What do I remember about God when I am beaten down, disappointed and in despair?  I remember that God has always been faithful, not only to those in the Bible but to me personally. I remember that God is good and all powerful. I remember that I can trust Jehovah, the majestic and all powerful God. And when I remember, I praise Him for those things!

I am thankful that when I decide to “remember the Lord” I don’t have to rely on my own memory. Yes, I study the Bible and feed my mind and spirit, but it is the Holy Spirit who brings things to my remembrance. Before Jesus went to heaven, He promised in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit will “teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you.”

When trials pound you. When pain floods over you. When grief threatens to drown you. When doubt tries to overtake you, REMEMBER THE LORD! Remember: His Word, His character, His name, His ways.