Psalm 77 is another instance of the psalmist crying out to God when in need. We can use this psalm as an example of things TO DO, and things NOT TO DO! He begins by speaking of his problems, cares, fears and concerns. It isn't until verses 11-12 that he begins to speak in a way that will bring him to a place of faith, trust and confidence in the God of the Bible!
11 I will [earnestly] recall the deeds of the Lord; yes, will [earnestly] remember the wonders [You performed for our fathers] of old. 12 I will meditate also upon all Your works and consider all Your [mighty] deeds.
To "remember" is the Hebrew word, "zakar", which means: to call to mind, to bring to remembrance, to keep in remembrance, to make a memorial. To "meditate" is the Hebrew word, "hagah", which means: to murmur; to ponder; to imagine; to speak, talk or utter; to study; to talk. Words are powerful! Words produce! We are responsible for what our words produce in our lives! Proverbs 18:20-21 says this:
20 A man's self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil]. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that indulge it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].
We can only change our WORDS when our thoughts change, because what we think about is what we will speak! When the psalmist meditated on the Word of God his thinking changed and that changed his words! He began to praise the Lord. THAT put him in a position of power! Watch what goes in your eyes and ears, because those things will determine what comes out of your mouth and what you will have to be satisfied with! Not satisfied? CHECK YOURSELF!
Hebrews 11:1 from the Amplified Bible:
1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
This verse is a very accurate description of the word "faith", which is the Greek word, "pistis, meaning: persuasion, credence, conviction of truth, assurance, belief. Faith is necessary for pleasing God (verse 6):
6 But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that he is a rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].
Another function of faith is found in verse 3:
3 By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the Word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.
God DID operate in faith when He spoke the world into existence! But the function for faith revealed in this verse is so that we may "understand", which is the Greek word, "noeo", meaning: to exercise the mind, to comprehend, to perceive. I like this note that I found in the Jewish New Testament Commentary:
...this verse sets forth a basic function of trusting, namely, that by trusting we understand...Those who refuse to take the tiny step necessary to trust in God cannot understand the most basic truths...
Do you remember where faith for every area of life comes from? Romans 10:17:
17 So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
Spend the time it takes in the Word of God for YOU to develop faith (trust and confidence) for every area of life! Then you WILL be pleasing to God, because of your faith! AMEN!
2 Kings 17:13-14 reveals the root cause behind the perpetual animosity for the nation of Israel and the Jewish people.
13 Yet the Lord warned Israel and Judah through all the prophets and all the seers, saying, Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the Law which I commanded your fathers and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. 14 Yet they would not hear, but hardened their necks as did their fathers who did not believe (trust in, rely on, and remain steadfast to) the Lord their God.
Yes, their disobedience to God's commandments caused them to go into captivity, but God also promised to bring them back, and He has done it! Make sure that you always bless Israel, so that you can walk in the Blessing and not the curse that comes with coming against God's people!
Shalom in Him!
