Then things begin to change for him. Now he begins to remember the past in a different way (v 5-6) - not to be depressed that his present experience isn’t like the “good old days” but rather to be encouraged that God hasn’t changed and there is therefore hope for the present and the future. As he meditates on this, his spirit makes a diligent search, the result of which is a series of rhetorical questions about God, the answer to all of which has to be an emphatic “NO!” Here they are:
- 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?
Spurred on by the realization that here are five things that God cannot possibly do and remain true to His word, the psalmist is encouraged to reflect on, and to appeal to, “The years of the right hand of the Most High.”
Now, for the third time, he revisits the past and recalls all of God’s gracious dealings with Israel from the time He redeemed them by bringing them out of slavery in Egypt. What mighty works He had done! What promises concerning His people and their inheritance. How He had introduced Himself to Moses as “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7). See how this wonderful statement of the being of God lies at the very heart of the rhetorical questions above. If these questions could ever be answered in the affirmative, then God could no longer be the God Who revealed Himself in such amazing terms to Moses!
And Asaph knows this appeal to the character of God and to the honor of His Name will be heard: “I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me” (Psalm 77:1).
How gracious of God to give us this Psalm as an object lesson in prayer! Sometimes I think we don’t really know God all that well; if we knew Him better, we would have courage to pray more forcefully. We would argue with Him to do something to prevent His name from being dishonored in His Church or by those in the world. We would go to him as children to their father and say those words that always unlock a blessing: “But Daddy, you promised!”
Asaph tells us that he kept on keeping on in his prayer. He refused to be comforted until he was answered. He sought the Lord day and night without wearying:
Psalm 77:2 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.
Likewise, we are encouraged in Scripture to give God no rest until He answers us (Isaiah 62:6-7). Jesus Himself repeats that lesson in the story of the man asking a friend for bread after he had gone to bed (Luke 11:5-13) and the parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8). And the wonderful thing is that we don’t have to persuade God to be good to us. He is already on our side! It is already His heart to abundantly bless His children! He wants us to come like this!
This seems a particularly good time for us to learn from Asaph, to listen to Jesus and to ask Him to teach us to pray more powerfully and more effectively. Some lyrics in a song by a contemporary secular folk band seem to fit Asaph’s problem (and ours) quite well:
The swing sets are empty like dirt turned the dark of the night
The center of this town it used to whirl in the glow of twilight
It might look like god's away with all the trouble these days
We'll come home before the girls are grown
We're coming home tonight
(From “The Ash & Clay” by The Milk Carton Kids)
Does it look like God’s away with all the trouble these days? Take another look at Asaph’s five questions, because the answer to them all is still an emphatic “NO!” But then follow Asaph’s example and take the questions to God. Remind Him of all that He has done to redeem His children. Plead with Him about His oath and His promise. Talk to Him about the covenant He has entered into with us - which is sealed with the blood of His dear Son. Reason with Him about the honor of His Name. Beg Him to return, and to grant that, as those God has redeemed out of their slavery to sin, we may again see the years of the Right Hand of our God - The Most High!
