REFLECT: Suffering and injustice troubled this psalmist as it did the prophet Habakkuk…and both brought their raw emotions and unanswered questions directly to God. How long do you think the psalmist had been seeking God? What had become the underlying tone of the psalmist’s questions in verses 7-9? How did the psalmist’s change of focus in verses 10-12 affect his perspective?

RESPOND: Make a list of the mighty deeds that God has shown you in your lifetime – timely wisdom, perfect circumstances, unmerited favor and for some, true miracles. Meditate on the ways that God has shown you his love, his mercy and compassion through the years. Hold fast to his promise that he is working all things for good (Romans 8:28) in ways that we may not be able to understand, and rejoice today, no matter the circumstance, in the presence of God, your Savior. (Habakkuk 3:18)

PSALM 77

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.