With the outbreak of Covid-19 there seems to be fear on every hand. Some fear the virus while others are more concerned about the economic impact or the tyranny of government. A few days ago i picked up a notebook I had not used for quite some time. As I sifted through the papers I found some old sermon notes of my dad’s. This morning after my devotions I was finishing a cup of coffee when I saw them laying on my desk. I picked them up and read them and realized how appropriate the message is for where we are living today.
My Heart is Troubled
Psalms 77:1-14 (KJV) I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. 4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. 7 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? 8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? 9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. 10 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. 11 I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. 12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. 13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? 14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
The Psalmist was counting his troubles.
My sore ran in the night.
My sore ceased not.
My soul refused to be comforted.
I was troubled.
I complained.
I was overwhelmed.
I could not sleep.
I was so troubled I could not speak.
I talked to myself.
I questioned my relationship with God.
I wondered if God would ever be favorable to me again.
I wondered if God had forgotten to be gracious.
I wondered if God had shut up His mercies
I complained that this was my infirmity in life.
Notice some positive things about the Psalmist. If, in the midst of our troubles, we can get something to cling to there is hope.
I. The consideration of God’s goodness to His people of old.
Psalms 77:11 I will remember the forks of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
Psalms 77:12 I will meditate also of all they work, and talk of thy doings.
What kind of God do I serve?
How has He treated those before me? (I’m not the first person to serve God.)
He is the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
He is the God of Job.
He is the God of Daniel.
He is the God of the three Hebrew children thrown in the fiery furnace.
He is the God of Moses that crossed the Red Sea.
He is the God of Joshua that crossed the Jordan River and marched around Jericho.
II. Remembrance of our own past experience.
Psalms 77:6 I call to remembrance my song in the night.
He is the One who saved me when I was lost.
He is the One who brought me to where I am tonight.
When David stood before King Saul he remembered the lion and the bear.
III. Self-examination
Psalms 77:6 I commune with mine own heart.
He would not let just feelings dictate to him what the moment should be; he put his heart into the examination.
1 Corinthians 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
IV. He diligently sought God.
Psalms 77:6 And my spirit made diligent search.
Psalm 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto the, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.