| REMEMBERING BACK |
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| Hope in a Time of Despair Psalm 77 is a "remembering" poem. It starts with deep despair. "Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion? (77:7,9). Imagine a wife asking such questions about her husband. Then thoughts turn, deliberately, to the past. Remember the turmoil at the banks of the Red Sea? Could anything be worse? But in that turbulent water they had seen the Lord's power: he had led them through to safety. He would do the same again. The historical psalms (77, 78, 105, 106) invite us, along with the Israelites, to relive history. Like married couples remembering back, we can recall God's work - his powerful victories recorded all through Scripture, his promises and proofs of love toward his people. And we can refer to God's history with us as individuals, too. Who cannot count some blessings, some undeserved favors? Through such remembering we are strengthened to face the future, and to recommit ourselves to trusting God's care. Life Questions: If you were to refer to a single past event for encouragement, what would it be? |
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