Psalm 77

Faith Experienced in Community:

The Discipline of Remembering

While in many ways, our faith is individual and personal, the fuller truth is that faith is something that happens in the midst of a community. Our stories are given birth in the context of other people's stories as well. Their stories help to shape ours in profound ways. We are born, grown, and make our own unique contributions in the context of a community.

All through the Psalms we find the reflections of people who are worshiping and praying in the context of community - not just the community that is composed of those people around them that they interact with every day, but also in the context of the community that has gone before them, and in anticipation of the community that will be there afterwards. We are not just individual worshipers, but a part of a worshiping community. All of this lies in the background of this worship psalm, Psalm 77.

As we listen to the lyrics of Psalm 77, we are drawn into the experience of a worshiper who is struggling, who is in lament, as he remembers the story of his people. He remembers how God has been with His people in the past, and yet he finds himself in the midst of a time when God's presence is not quite so obvious.

And so, the Psalmist decides to remember, to refresh his memory and his experience, about what his story really is. It is a story that remains real even in the midst of the segment of the story we might be living that feels a bit less triumphant. It is a Psalm that invites us to remember.

This is what Pastor Pablo explores with us this morning as we reflect on Psalm 77 together. If you would like to listen to the sermon once again, or perhaps for the first time, you can access our sermon library here. If you prefer, you can access the livestream version here.

Psalm 77

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.

1 I cried out to God for help;

I cried out to God to hear me.

2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;

at night I stretched out untiring hands,

and I would not be comforted.

3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned;

I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.

4 You kept my eyes from closing;

I was too troubled to speak.

5 I thought about the former days,

the years of long ago;

6 I remembered my songs in the night.

My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

7 “Will the Lord reject forever?

Will he never show his favor again?

8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?

Has his promise failed for all time?

9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?

Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:

the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.

11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;

yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

12 I will consider all your works

and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

13 Your ways, God, are holy.

What god is as great as our God?

14 You are the God who performs miracles;

you display your power among the peoples.

15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,

the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

16 The waters saw you, God,

the waters saw you and writhed;

the very depths were convulsed.

17 The clouds poured down water,

the heavens resounded with thunder;

your arrows flashed back and forth.

18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,

your lightning lit up the world;

the earth trembled and quaked.

19 Your path led through the sea,

your way through the mighty waters,

though your footprints were not seen.

20 You led your people like a flock

by the hand of Moses and Aaron

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