Psalms 77:11

Psalms 77:11 says, I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.  Asaph said he would remember God's works of old, and we should never forget what God has done for us in the past, especially when He sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins.  Of course, we should also acknowledge everything that God does for us each day.  Verse twelve adds, I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.  We should also meditate on all of God's work and tell people about what He has done and is doing in our life and in the world as a whole.  Verse thirteen continues, Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?  I believe that today if we say God's way is in the sanctuary that it is the sanctuary of the heart of those who put their faith in Jesus Christ that we are talking about.  We can certainly ask the question of who is as great as God, and the answer is no one.  Verse fourteen states, Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.  Asaph said that God was the God Who did wonders and that He had declared His strength among the people.  God still does wonders today, the greatest of which is to provide salvation to every sinful person, which is everyone, who will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse fifteen adds, Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.  God has indeed redeemed His people, and today that includes everyone who puts their faith in Christ.  Verse sixteen says, The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.  Asaph then begins to speak of God's power in creation.   Verse seventeen adds, The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.  Asaph said God's power extended into the heavens, controlling the rain and thunder and lightning.  I don't believe that every storm is a direct result of God's action, but God can indeed control all the storms if He chooses to do so.  Verse eighteen continues, The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.  God does have the power to shake the earth with His voice.  The God Who spoke everything into existence can certainly shake His creation with His voice.  This is the power of the God we serve as Christians, the only God there is, so we should never be afraid of anything the world might throw at us.  Verse nineteen says, Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.  Though we can never know the footsteps of the heavenly Father, we can know the footsteps of Jesus Christ, and this is all the knowledge we need in order to attain salvation.  We will never know everything about God in this lifetime, and maybe in the everlasting life to come, but through our faith in Christ we can begin to understand God's ways.  Verse twenty adds, Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.  Just as God led His people by the hand of Moses and Aaron, He leads His people today by the Holy Spirit's guidance.   

Psalms 77:1

Psalms 77:1 says,To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.  This is identified as another psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.  Asaph said he cried out loud unto God, and God heard him. As followers of Christ, God hears us whether we cry out loud to Him or whether we cry silently to Him.  Verse two adds, 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.  Asaph said he sought the Lord in his day of trouble, but since he was not immediately healed he would not be comforted.  Even if we do not immediately get the answer we seek from God, I believe that simply bringing our concerns to Him should bring us relief, because no matter what happens, He has given us everlasting salvation and victory.  Verse three continues, I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.  Asaph said he remembered God and was troubled and complained because his spirit was overwhelmed.  He evidently didn't see God for Who He really is, allowing his situation to be more powerful than God's love and grace.  We should always rest secure in God's grace and never allow the world to cause us to doubt or question Him.  Verse four states, Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.  Asaph then said that He had reached the point that when he woke that could not even speak because of his troubles.  We as Christians should never allow ourselves to get into this condition.  Our faith should always be stronger than our fears.  Verse five adds, I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.  Asaph said he remembered the times of old when God had blessed him, and this left him even more desolate.  We cannot be discouraged today because things were better in the past.  God is still God whether we are prospering or suffering in life.  Verse six says, I call to remembrance my song in the night: I  commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.  Asaph said he remembered when he sang praises to God in the night.  Verse seven asks, Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?  Asaph questioned whether God would ever be gracious to him again after some soul searching, when he questioned whether he had done something to deserve God's punishment and whether God had cast him off forever.   .  We don't need to question whether God has cast us off forever if we are followers of Christ, because He never will.  Still, if things are going badly in life we might need to do some soul searching to see if we have strayed away from God.  Verse eight adds, Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?  Asaph continued to question God's grace instead of putting his faith in God no matter what.  We should never allow our current situation if things are going badly to cause us to question whether God has abandoned us if we are Christians.  We have everlasting security through our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse nine continues, Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.  Asaph was still attempting to put the blame for his suffering on God.  Too many people today, who have put their faith in Jesus Christ, question God's love and mercy based on their current difficulties in life, and this should not be the case.  We should rest secure in His love and mercy.  Verse ten states, And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.  Asaph then finally said that he would remember the years of God's goodness to him.  We should never allow any current suffering to cause us to forget God's love for us in the past and the present.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are forever secure in our relationship with God, and we should never forget or question this fact.

Psalms 76:1

Psalms 76:1 says,To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. This is identified as a psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.  Asaph says that God is known in Judah and His name is great in Israel.  Those were the people known as God's people, and today the people of the church are known as God's people and His name should be great among us.  Verse two adds, In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.  God's tabernacle and dwelling place were seen as being in Judah and Israel.  We know that God is not limited to any specific country or place though, but He lives in the hearts of His people wherever they are.  Verse three continues, There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.  Asaph then speaks of a great victory that God had given His people in battle, and God has already won the victory for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse four states, Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.  Asaph proclaimed God's superiority over the mountains of prey, those that saw themselves as all powerful and did not mind preying on those who were weaker.  Many people today see themselves as all powerful and prey on those who are physically or even financially weaker.  Verse five adds, The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.  Asaph said these people had faith in their strength and ability to defeat an opponent.  There are nations today that believe their military might gives them the ability to defeat anyone, and many not only don't worship God or even deny His existence or worship some other God.  Verse six continues, At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.  Asaph said that God was more powerful than these enemies though, and He still is today.  There is nothing that we as followers of Christ need to fear today.  Verse seven says, Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?  Asaph said God was to be feared when He stood against those who would destroy His people, and asked who could stand against His anger.  There never has been nor ever will be anyone or any group of people who can stand against God.   Verse eight adds, Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,  Asaph says that God's judgment came from heaven and the earth heard and was still.  When God speaks in judgment, as He one day will, all the earth will listen, even if too many people refuse to do so beforehand.  Verse nine continues, When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.  Asaph said that when God rose in judgment that He would save all the meek of the earth, those who humbly submitted to God's will instead of proudly declaring their own might.  Verse ten states, Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.  God does restrain the wrath of evil in the world, even when it seems like evil is winning.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, we as followers of Christ will always be victorious from the perspective of our everlasting life with God.  Verse eleven adds, Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.  Just as the people then were called on to worship and praise God, so must we today as Christians.  We are to give all that we are or have to God.   Verse twelve concludes, He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.  God was, is and always will be more powerful than anyone or any group of people.  We can rest easy in God's victory over evil in the world, no matter what happens in our life. 

Psalms 75:1

Psalms 75:1 says,To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.  This is stated to be another psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.  Matthew Henry says this probably applied to David, and was written by Asaph from as speech of David.  As followers of Christ, this should be our promise as well.  We should give thanks to God because of Who He is, and not because of what He can do for us.  Verse two adds, When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.  When the one the psalmist was writing about came to power, he promised to judge uprightly.  When people come into power today, especially Christians, we need to judge uprightly, or under the leadership of God.  Verse three continues, The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.  He also promised to restore the government to a righteous state.  Again, if we are in positions of leadership today, no matter what had been the standard before, we must work to restore righteousness to our place of leadership.  Verse four states, I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:  The psalmist warned the foolish, those who did not believe in or follow God to not deal foolishly with others and for the wicked to not to attempt to exert their power.  We need to be speaking out against those who do not follow God's laws today and attempt to exert their influence on others.  Verse five adds, Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.  This is a continuation of the warning to those who act foolishly or in wickedness.  We should also warn people of the danger of doing so today, even if they are stiff necked, or stubborn in their refusal to follow God's laws.  Verse six declares, For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.  Verse seven adds, But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.  The psalmist said that true power does not come from anywhere in the earth, but from God Himself.  Though someone may be placed in power by the people that they govern, true leadership comes only from those who put their faith in God.  Verse eight states, For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.  The psalmist then compares God's leadership to a cup of good wine versus a cup of dregs. Matthew Henry says this could point to the cup of Christ.  Either we choose to drink or it, or we drink from the dregs of wickedness.  Verse nine says, But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.  The psalmist said that he would declare the goodness of God forever and sing His praises.  So must we as followers of Christ.  Verse ten adds, All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.  The psalmist said that God would cut off the horns of the wicked, or remove their power, but He would exalt the righteous.  If not before, this will happen when Jesus Christ returns in judgment. 

Psalms 74:12

Psalms 74:12 says, For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.  God is indeed the King of old, Who has brought salvation to the midst of the earth, and there is no other God or way to salvation.  Verse thirteen adds, Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.  Matthew Henry says this refers to God defeating the pharaoh and the Egyptians.  Verse fourteen continues, Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.  The dragons represented the Egyptians and the leviathan the pharaoh, and God had shown His total power over them in the past.  God was and is still the all powerful God, Who has defeated our enemies in the past and will do so in the present and future.  Verse fifteen states, Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.  Asaph said that God was in control of all His creation, able to cause the waters to flow or to dry up the rivers.  Though God does not cause all natural disasters, He has the power to.  Sin is the ultimate cause of the problems in the world, because when God created it, before men and women sinned, He pronounced it good.  Verse sixteen adds, The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.  Asaph continues to praise God as the Creator of the universe, and so should we today as followers of Christ.  Verse seventeen continues, Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.  As Asaph praises God, he says God set the borders, or size, of the earth and made the seasons.  Some people worship the seasons and the stars and moon today and refuse to acknowledge the Creator of the seasons, stars and moon.  As Christians, we cannot believe that anything other than God Himself is in control, today or anytime in the future.  Verse eighteen declares, Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.  Throughout history and until Chist returns, foolish people have and will deny the power of God, and attempt to reproach Him and those who put their faith in Him.  Verse nineteen adds, O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor forever.  Asaph asked God to not allow His people to be defeated forever into the hands of the wicked.  If may seem that the evil are winning in the world today, but God has already secured the victory for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty says, Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.  Asaph asked God to have respect for His covenant, and He always has and always will.  We are the ones who break our covenant with God, if it is broken.  Verse twenty-one adds, O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.  If we are oppressed today as Christians, it is not God Who causes us to be ashamed of our faith, but it is us if we are.  Even if we are poor and oppressed, we must continue to live by faith and praise God.  Verse twenty two  continues, Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.  Asaph asked God to remember His own cause and how foolish people forgot Him everyday.  We do not have to ask God to remember His cause as Christians, even if foolish people continue to forget Him everyday.  God's existence and power are not determined by whether people believe in Him or not.  Verse twenty-three concludes, Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.  God knows the voice of His enemies, and will always be the One Who will one day judge them.  We as followers of Christ must simply remain faithful to Him, no matter how sinful the world may become.

Psalms 74:1

Psalms 74:1 says, Maschil of Asaph. This is another psalm identified as a psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?  The people of Israel were once again being defeated, and Asaph asked God why He had abandoned them.  Matthew Henry says the events described align wit Nebuchadnezzar defeating Israel and destroying the temple, which happened much later so it was evidently a prophesy.   Verse two adds, Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.  Asaph asked God to remember His congregation which He had purchased of old, and we can be certain that God will never forget us as followers of Christ because He purchased us by the shed blood of Christ on the cross.  Verse three continues, Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.  Asaph asked that God restore them from the perpetual desolation that had even occurred to God's sanctuary.  Today, the only real sanctuary of God that people can destroy is believers themselves, because our faith represents the temple of God.  Verse four states, Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.  I believe that we can say that the enemies of God roar against His people today as Asaph said they did in this psalm.  Verse five adds, A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.  Matthew Henry says this refers to the destruction of the tembers of the tabernacle, which was viewed as no more than cutting down any tree.  Some people today see the destruction of the things dedicated to God as no more than destroying anything else, and they may even take pride in doing so.  Verse six continues, But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.  This is a further reference to the destruction of the temple, which would happen much later.  Verse seven says, They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. Once more, Asaph refers to the destruction of the temple, which was seen as God's dwelling place.  We know that God is not limited to a particular place, but that does not stop those who deny or defy Him from attempting to destroy everything associated with Him.  Verse eight adds, They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.  Not only was the temple being destroyed, but also any place that represented God was.  People of the world today would often like to destroy anything that represents God, even Christians themselves.  Verse nine continues, We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.  Asaph said there were no signs or prophets to tell them how long the destruction would last.  We are given some signs of the return of Christ when all of God's enemies will be defeated, but I don't believe there will be any new prophet to tell us when this will occur.  Verse ten asks, O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?  Asaph asked how long God would allow His enemies to blaspheme His name.  We as followers of Christ may ask the same thing today, but instead we need to simply be content to live by faith every day and continue to witness for and worship God.  Verse eleven adds,Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.  Asaph asked how long God would wait before restoring His people by His power.  We may sometimes wonder how long God will allow evil to attempt to destroy His people, but we know that through our faith in Jesus Christ we have already won the victory. 

Psalms 73:15

Psalms 73:15 says, If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.  Asaph said that if he voiced the thought that the wicked prospered and the Godly suffered that he would offend a whole generation of God's children.   It is better to keep doubts that we might have about God to our self than to voice them to others and maybe lead them astray as well.  Verse sixteen adds, When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;  Asaph said this idea was too painful to Him, as it should be to us.  Verse seventeen continues, Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.  Asaph said that he continued to be confused until he went into the temple of God.  Matthew Henry says that Asaph went there to study, pray and meditate on the nature of God, and this is what we should do today if we have questions about God as Christians.  Verse eighteen states, Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.  Asaph said he realized that the prosperity of the evil was a temporary thing, no matter how long it lasted.  We need to view life from an everlasting view, because anything less is just temporary.  Verse nineteen adds, How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.  When God's judgment comes, in that minute the wicked, those who do not put their faith in Jesus Christ, will be consumed with terrors.  Verse twenty continues, As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.  Asaph said that when God awoke, or came in judgment, that He would despise the image of those who denied Him.  Though when we see all the evil in the world today we may feel that God is asleep, He never is.  Verse twenty-one declares, Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.  Asaph said his heart was grieved when he realized how wrong his thoughts had been, and so should we be if we start to question God based on material wealth.  Verse twenty-two adds, So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.  Asaph said he was foolish and ignorant before God when he was questioning Him.  We are the same today as Asaph was then when we question God, foolish and ignorant.  Verse twenty-three says, Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.  Asaph said even when he questioned God that he knew that God was still with him and holding him by the hand.  God is even closer to Christians today, because we have the Holy Spirit living in us.  Verse twenty-four adds, Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.  We as followers of Christ like Asaph should acknowledge that God will guide us in this lifetime and the receive us in the glory of heaven when this life is over.  This is all that really matters.  Verse twenty-five asks, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.  As Asaph asked, Whom do we have in heaven beside God, and since this is true, there should be none on earth that we desire besides God.  Verse twenty-six adds, My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.  As Christians, God should likewise be our strength when our heart and flesh fail.  Verse twenty-seven states, For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.  This will never change.  Those who do not believe in God and put their faith in Jesus Christ will be far from Him spiritually and will perish.  Verse twenty-eight adds, But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.  As Asaph said, it is good for us as Christians to draw near to God and to proclaim all His work in the world, no matter how much the wicked may seem to prosper.