Day 671: Does God forget? - Psalm 77

1-2 I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord. At night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. 3-4 I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint. You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. 5-6 I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night. 7-9 My heart meditated and my spirit asked: ‘Will the Lord reject for ever? Will he never show his favour again? Has his unfailing love vanished for ever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?’

10-12 Then I thought, ‘To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.’ 13-18 Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. 19-20 Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Psalm 77 New International Version.

Look again at the important questions the writer asked in vs 7-9 which may describe how we might have felt at times – even if we wouldn’t want to admit that. He felt as if God had forgotten all about him! What sort of situation do verses 1-2 suggest he was in?

He was in deep distress. Nothing anyone said could help. He couldn't sleep and his prayers seemed to be going nowhere. In a strange way, it's a comfort to know that God fearing people have been through such times in their life. Other Psalms describe similar situations. What did he eventually do to keep his hopes up that God would come to his aid? (vs 10-12)

He turned his thoughts to what was written of miracles God had done in the past for His people. In particular, he remembers the amazing way God rescued Israel when the Red Sea blocked their way as the army of Pharaoh was about to attack them. (vs 13-18) What were the two surprising outcomes of that event in vs 19-20?

The obvious surprise was how the Red Sea miraculously parted and Israel was saved. But I was surprised too that he says to God: “Though you led the way through the Red Sea - your footprints were not seen!”

Difficult to know exactly what he meant by that, but the thought struck me that God's presence and help is always there for His people – even when there may be no physical signs of that! There may be no glimmer of light in the dark time we are passing through, no respite from some physical pain we are experiencing – but that doesn't mean that God is not there, or that He has forgotten us. He WILL lead us through what's before us even if we see no footprints!

If we encounter a crisis such as this man did let us take hold of the promise God gave to Israel in Isaiah 49:14-16 when all seemed lost. We read there: “Jerusalem says, 'The Lord  has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us.’” But God's response was: “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.” We may not see God's footprints – but our Saviour constantly sees our name! Jesus said: “I give my sheep eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30)