Sermon INTRODUCTION A Strategy for Tragedy Psalm 77

Our logic reaches a dead end beyond which our hearts cannot go, if the pain and suffering of this world are God’s doing. In order for the human heart to maintain love for a sovereign God, faith must affirm what it cannot prove: (Romans 8:28).

Virtually everyone in this room will experience a bitter calamity sooner or later. And you can mark it down ahead of time: it will almost certainly seem absurd and meaningless and undeserved when it comes

Psalm 77:3 “when I remember God, then I am disturbed.” NSAB “I remembered God and I was troubled” – NKJV “When I remember God, I moan” ESV

“I remembered you O God, and I groaned” – NIV “I remember God- and shake my head; I bow my head- then wring my hands – The Message

Psalm 77 Do you know how to take your soul that refuses to be comforted and turn it to God?

Verse 1-9 give the problem or situation Verses give the strategy for tragedy Verses give the result

VERSES 1-9 THE PROBLEM OR SITUATION The temptation of trials is to believe that God has abandoned us, that He is absent, and that He is angry

[15] For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isaiah 57:15 ESV)

A humbling life experience makes you a candidate for experiencing an infusion of God’s grace

“It is not the experience of loss or suffering that becomes the defining moment of our lives, for that is as inevitable as death. It is how we respond that matters. Our response will largely determine the quality, the direction, and the impact of our lives” - Jerry Sittser

In times of trial and pain It is all too easy to become self-referential and self-reverential

VERSES GIVE THE STRATEGY FOR TRAGEDY Flee self centered reflection and press into God The psalmist begins to remember what God has done in the past as a foundation for growth and comfort.

GOD IS GREAT V. 11 GOD IS HOLY –v. 13 GOD IS CARING – v

The cross and resurrection are the NT equivalent of the Exodus Luke 9:28ff [28] Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. [29] And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.

30] And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, [31] who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:28-31 ESV)

These final verses of Psalm 77 are THE CRY OF FAITH even when it is a dark cry; it shows the invincible steadfastness of faith that is centered on God

David Powlison – “There may be mixed motives, but over time it always becomes clear whether we are processing our anguish through faith or through pride and unbelief.” The cross of Christ is the warrant for confidence in God’s promises of ultimate good, despite great heartache.- Bryan Chapell

VERSES GIVE THE RESULT Worship and confidence; the soul of one resting the care of a Shepherd

Through Jesus’ resurrection, we learn that our God has power over evil, but through the cross He gains power over our hearts... Sheep trust the shepherd whom they have learned is good, and we trust our Good Shepherd because he has laid down his life for us. Bryan Chapell

I wanted to pray but had no idea what to say. Groaning became the only language I could use, but it was enough for God to understand Only when we choose to pay attention to our souls will we learn how much more there is to life than the external world around us. – Jerry Sittser

Jesus of the Scars – Edward Shillito The other gods were strong, but Thou wast weak; They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne; But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak, And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone

He won’t abandon you during your darkness He isn’t absent He isn’t angry