Chapter 9 Discussion Continued

God's mercy is extended to us in two ways: in salvation, and in pity and compassion for our affliction.

We'll be looking at God's mercy to us in our affliction.

Throughout Scripture we see God having mercy on those who fear Him, who trust in Him, and who hope in Him.

"For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him." Psalm 103:11

"Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about." Psalm 32:10

"Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee." Psalm 33:22

Is God without mercy to some?

"...keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments..." Deut. 7:9

"...Thou has shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee..." I Kings 3:6

God's mercy is accessible to all who seek Him, to all who look to Him for it, to all who believe He will provide.

"I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.' Psalm 77:1

What did Asaph do? Cried unto God.

"In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted." Psalm 77:2

What did he do in verse 2? Sought God in his day of trouble, BUT his soul refused to be comforted.

How did he deal with his soul that refused to be comforted?

"I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. " Psalm 77:3

He remembered God, BUT he complained.

How did his spirit feel in verse 3? overwhelmed.

"Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times." Psalm 77:4-5

Can you see the battle he was facing? Sometimes when we are 'in the day of our trouble' we feel that we can't be comforted, we feel overwhelmed, we can't find words to express our feelings.

Note each verse: "I sought the Lord" "my soul refused to be comforted." v2

"I remembered God," "my spirit was overwhelmed." v3

"I have considered the days of old" v5

Now we see him gaining victory.

"I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah." Psalm 77:6-9

"I call to remembrance my song"

"I commune with mine own heart and my spirit made diligent search"

"Will the Lord cast off for ever?"

"Is his mercy clean gone for ever?"

"Hath God forgotten to be gracious?"

I have prayed these words to God several times in my life.

I tend to be a 'fighter'. I'm like that bull dog that latches onto the bull's snout and won't let go. I've often felt sometimes God has to thunk me on the head to get my attention--that He has to knock the stuffing out of me before I'm ready to listen and learn.

It's not until I start crying out like this psalmist, that I am finally on the road to right thinking, to surrendering to God's way and not my way.

I've learned that there are plenty of things I pray for and desire, but only what is really important gets answered to true satisfaction. Not that God hasn't blessed me. I am very blessed. But that often I pray without knowledge, without understanding, and it isn't until I've lived past my prayers, and God's no or wait, that I can understand why.

v10 "This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all they work, and talk of thy doings."

v13 "Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?"

We have to push through the discouragement, the sorrow, the refusing to be comforted, the questioning of God. Each step requires us focusing on God.

"I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me."

"In the day of trouble I sought the Lord:"

"I remembered God"

"Thou holderst mine eyes waking"

While this last statement shows his trouble, it also shows that he acknowledges God will show him something. He might not even be aware at this moment that he's looking for "God's hand," as we would say.

"I have considered the days of old"

"I call to remembrance my song"

"I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High."

Keep pushing back the thoughts of despair. Keep humbling yourself. Learn to be satisfied with the answers you receive today and continue to hope in the Lord.

Let's call out the mercies of God. How has He shown you mercy this week? this day? this year?