Wake Up Call

February 27th, 2010

Saturday

My Daily Scripture Readings: Judges 4-5; Luke 22:35-53; Proverbs 12:18; Psalms 77

SCRIPTURE: Psalms 77:2b, 77:3, 77:5, 77:11-12, 77:19

"...my soul refused to be comforted."(Psalms 77:2b)

"I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;"(Psalms 77:3)

"I thought about the former days, the years of long ago;"(Psalms 77:5)

"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds."(Psalms 77:11-12)

"Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen."(Psalms 77:19)

OBSERVATION: Psalms 77 paints a picture of a troubled man (David) who calls out to God and believes that he is not being answered the way he desires to be. He is in anguish until he begins to recall earlier times spent with his Father. I could be missing the mark, but I believe his first reaction was one of frustration and anger because those were much better times than where he presently found himself. I believe he may have even used that reflection of the past as evidence to how far God had slipped away and distanced Himself from David.

David continues to question God's motives and begins to wonder how long he will be kept waiting by God? How long will God withhold His love from David? How long will God's promises remain unfulfilled. This line of thinking seems to pull David out of his stupor, and he chooses to shift from moping about in the present, and begins to meditate and remember "your miracles of long ago.(v.11)" He begins to "meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.(v.12)"

Such a reflection leads David to consider God's amazing deed of parting the Red Sea. He begins to reflect on God's power to make the wind and the sea conform to His will. David ends his reflection by stating, "Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waves, though your footprints were not seen. (v.19)" In the end, David comes to be in awe of God's power and, perhaps, with his last comment about unseen footprints, comes to the realization that just because it may seem as if God is not present in his life at that moment, that He is actually closer than he thought.

APPLICATION: The journey that David goes through in Psalms 77 from an almost bitter resentment towards God to falling on his knees in awe of God's power, is reminiscent of my own journey-or, at least, I would like to believe that it is. I believe that I have yet to truly be back on my knees, however, I feel I am on my way back.

December 7th, 2009 was almost three months ago. It was also the last time I set aside a few moments out of my day to reflect on God's Word and Will for my life. That time between then and now has witnessed me attempting to do everything on my own - make my own decisions, satisfy my own needs and desires - as I saw them to be, - and ultimateely solve my problems on my own.

*** TO BE CONCLUDED ***