Outlines in Psalms
This outline is a companion to a previous outline: In the Day of My Trouble - Psalm 77
In Psalm 77:4-9 the psalmist Asaph cried out and complained, saying, “Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? And will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.”
Through this cry and complaint, we understand that the psalmist had come to a place of utter discouragement and depression. In addition, we understand that the foundational reason for the psalmist’s discouragement and depression was that he had come to a place of doubting and questioning the gracious, merciful, and faithful nature of the Lord his God. Yet by the end of this psalm, the psalmist had come to a completely different place, to a place of comfort and courage through whole-hearted trust in and praise of the Lord his God. So then, what brought about this change? The turning point of the psalm is found in verses 10-12.
This outline is a companion to a previous outline: In the Day of My Trouble - Psalm 77
In Psalm 77:4-9 the psalmist Asaph cried out and complained, saying, “Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? And will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.”
Through this cry and complaint, we understand that the psalmist had come to a place of utter discouragement and depression. In addition, we understand that the foundational reason for the psalmist’s discouragement and depression was that he had come to a place of doubting and questioning the gracious, merciful, and faithful nature of the Lord his God. Yet by the end of this psalm, the psalmist had come to a completely different place, to a place of comfort and courage through whole-hearted trust in and praise of the Lord his God. So then, what brought about this change? The turning point of the psalm is found in verses 10-12.
1. I Will Confess – We must humbly confess the sinfulness of doubting our Lord and of complaining against His character.
Psalm 77:10a – “And I said, This is my infirmity.”
2. I Will Remember – We must purposefully remember the past great and good, glorious and gracious works of our Lord.
Psalm 77:10b-11 – “But I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.”
3. I Will Meditate – We must purposefully meditate upon the past great and good, glorious and gracious works of our Lord.
Psalm 77:12a – “I will meditate also of all thy work.”
4. I Will Talk – We must purposefully speak forth the past great and good, glorious and gracious works of the Lord.
Psalm 77:12b – “And [I will] talk of thy doings.”
Posted in Outlines in Psalms, In Time of Trouble, Sin of Complaining, Repentance of Sin, Godly Attitude, Godly Meditation, Praising the Lord, Trust in God
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