I Will Remember – Psalm 77

I read a fascinating article by Sarah Olsen on reminiscence therapy and its use with senior adults, even Alzheimer’s sufferers.  The benefits of helping people remember their lives is stunning.  Asaph found his own form of reminiscence therapy.

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me.  In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.  When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah

You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.  I consider the days of old, the years long ago.  I said, “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.”  Then my spirit made a diligent search:  “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?  Has his steadfast love forever ceased?  Are his promises at an end for all time?  Has God forgotten to be gracious?  Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah

Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.  I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.  Your way, O God, is holy.  What god is great like our God?  You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.  You with your arm redeemed your people,  the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled.  The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side.  The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook.  Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.  You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.  (Psalm 77 ESV)

There are times when the people of God feel abandoned simply because they do not see God removing their troubles and they are in anguish.  They are not afraid to raise tough questions to God about where He is or why He has allowed this.  But in the end they find their answer in remembering how God has demonstrated His love toward them. 

They look particularly to the time of their redemption as from Egypt when God shepherded them through the Red Sea and the wilderness by the hands of Moses and Aaron.  We too look to the time of our redemption, pictured in the Passover meal that became Jesus’ last meal with his disciples announcing a new Exodus from our enslavement.  God demonstrated His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).