E-pistle for August 5, 2011
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E-pistle
FreeWay Foundation August 5, 2011
My Song In The Night
(Psalm 77:1-20)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
I. Concentration: on the sufferings of God's people
1. I cried out to God with my voice, v. 1.
2. In the day of trouble, I sought the Lord, v. 2.
3. My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing, v. 2.
4. My soul refused to be comforted, v. 2.
5. I remembered God and was troubled (rather than finding peace), v. 3.
6. I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed, v. 3.
7. I am so troubled that I can't sleep or rest ("You hold my eyelids open")
and things have gotten worse so that I can't even speak, v. 4.
II. Meditation: on what God's people should do in such times of trouble
1. Consider the days of old . . . the years of ancient times, v. 5.
2. Call to remembrance "my song in the night," v. 6.
3. Contemplate within my heart upon the words and works of God, v. 6.
4. Cause my spirit to make diligent search for spiritual enlightenment, v. 6.
III. Meditation: on my questions about God in my "song in the night"
1. Will the Lord cast off forever? v. 7.
2. Will He be favorable (extend grace) no more? v. 7.
3. Has His mercy ceased forever? v. 8.
4. Has His promises failed forevermore? v. 8.
5. Has God forgotten to be gracious? v. 9.
6. Has God in anger shut up His tender mercies? v. 9.
7. ANSWERS: NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!
IV. Revelation: on the proper actions to take in one's "anguish," (v. 10)
1. Remember the power of God, vv. 11, 16-19.
2. Recall God's miraculous deliverances in days past, vv. 11, 20.
3. Meditate upon all the words and works of God, v. 12.
4. Talk to others (testify; witness) about God's deeds:
1) God is great, v. 3 3) God strengthens His people, v. 14
2) God does miracles, v. 14 4) God redeems His people, v. 15
V. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Offer up prayers and supplications to God when troubles come.
2. Consider God's omnipotence and His miraculous blessings in the past.
3. Meditate upon God's words and works, seeking spiritual enlightenment
to perceive His plan and purpose for my life.
4. Joyfully sing my "song in the night," witnessing to others about God's
everlasting grace and mercy.
Tell the generations to come
(Psalm 78:4, 6)
Dr. Curt Scarborough
"Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His
wonderful works that He has done . . . That the generation to come might know them,
the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children,"
Psalm 78:4, 6.
I. Concentration: on the words of the Lord
1. They included His law (Ten Commandments), v. 1.
2. They included other (prophetic) words from God, v. 1.
3. They included parables, mainly to illustrate and to reveal spiritual
truths of God's nature and providence, v. 2.
4. They included "dark sayings" to conceal spiritual truths from
unbelieving persons, v. 2.
II. Meditation: on the works of God
1. Deliverance from bondage, vv. 12-14.
2. Provision of water and food, vv. 15-31.
3. Forgiveness from sinful iniquity, vv. 32-39.
4. Guidance through the wilderness into safety, vv. 52-55.
III. Revelation: on man's responses to God's words and works
1. They stubbornly and rebelliously refused to walk in God's covenant
and to obey God's laws, vv. 8, 10.
2. They forgot about God's wonderful works in their behalf, vv. 11-17.
3. They doubted (did not believe in) God's power, v. 32.
4. After experiencing God's discipline (punishment), they repented and
sought earnestly for God, vv. 34-35, . . . but only temporarily before they
backslid again, vv. 36-37 . . . and God, remembering their human frailty, in
mercy and grace again forgave them, vv. 38-39.
IV. Applications: as a Christian, I need to . . .
1. Understand the words and obey the commands of Almighty God.
2. Thank the Lord for His salvation, provision, forgiveness, and guidance.
3. Welcome, and profit from, God's discipline, realizing that it is for the good
of my soul, Hebrews 12:11.
4. Hear God's call to honor Him by serving others, and like David . . . shepherd
them with the integrity of my heart and guide them with the skillfulness of
my hands, v. 72.
"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.
Live your life so that when you die, the
world cries and you rejoice."
--Cherokee Proverb
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