Grace in the Recall
“But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. Psalms 77:11 NLT
“But” is a three-letter word that can be used as a conjunction, preposition, adverb, or noun. The definition of this little word is dependent on the use of it. If “but” is used as a conjunction, it is defined as “a word that is used to introduce a phrase or clause contrasting with what has already been mentioned.” When making the word a phrase - “But then…”, Webster says it is used to introduce a statement that adds another and different thought to a preceding statement.
I know – who really wants a grammar lesson!
Please bear with me for the thought for today’s article.
In doing a little research, I read on the internet that Asaph was credited with writing Psalms 77. He was a Levite – one of King David’s chief musicians. He was a skilled singer and poet who helped lead the Levitical tabernacle choir in songs of praise and worship to the Lord. He also served as a prophet who spoke on behalf of God to convey words of judgement and salvation to the people.
No doubt Asaph was up close and personal in seeing King David’s life. I would dare to say Asaph must have seen the highs and lows, the victories and defeats that David experienced.
For me, it’s good to read a scripture in different versions and translations because it helps me to get the full picture of the meaning of a passage. Let me just say when I applied this process in reading Psalms 77 in the New Living Translation, I realized how much I could relate to Asaph’s writing. He wrote words such as:
Oh, that God would listen to me!
When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord.
…my soul was not comforted.
…too distressed even to pray!
Is his unfailing love gone forever?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he slammed the door on his compassion?
You get the idea! Asaph was struggling. And by verse 10, he says, “… This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.”
Have you ever been there? Just maybe, you are there now.
Hence, we have the reason for the short grammar lesson. The NLT says verse 11 begins with those two words, “But then…” Asaph uses those two words to stop - take a moment, to pause and remind himself of a different thought – a twist to all the preceding verses. He continued with words like:
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.
… your ways are holy.
Is there any god as mighty as you?
You are the God of great wonders!
Asaph continues the discourse by re-telling the account of how God redeemed Israel by His strong arm. He told of how the Israelites were delivered from Egypt and the Pharoah’s army by walking on dry land through the Red Sea, with God leading His people like a flock of sheep with Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.
When faced with crisis or trauma, I process it all by talking/praying out my feelings of frustration, thoughts, questions, rants, cries of anguish and heartaches. And, eventually, my words and cries slow down, my heart shifts focus, and it’s then that I begin to remember where my faith rests and in who I place my hope and trust in.
Sometimes, we just need to pause and take a moment to get quiet so that we can remember all the wondrous deeds of God’s strong hand and remind ourselves of exactly who God is.
