#DailyDevotion When You Are Weak, Remember The Deeds Of The LORD
Psalm 77 (Music) 10Then I said, “It makes me weak, that the right hand of the Most High might change.
Verse ten has a couple of different translations based on how certain Hebrew words are given vowels. Here are a couple of other major ways it is translated:
(ESV) Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
(KJV) And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
There are quite some differences there. It apparently is some tough Hebrew to interpret. Lets just go with the translation we have been using.
With the given translation you could see who we could get weak if we thought the right hand of the Most High could change. One thing we have with the Almighty is that He does not change. His default mode is always in His Name given in Ex. 34:6. He is kind, merciful, steadfast in love, forgiving sins but disciplining those He loves when they sin. If He is wrathful and we repent in trust He will default to His primary will toward us being kind, merciful, steadfast in love and forgiving us our sins with discipline. In his weakness the psalmist is worried God might change. Thank God, He does not.
11I recall the LORD’s accomplishments; I remember the wonders You did long ago, 12and meditate on all Your work; I think of what You have done. 13O God, Your way is holy. Is any god as great as our God? 14You are the God Who does wonders, You have shown Your power among the nations. 15By Your arm You freed Your people, both Jacob’s and Joseph’s descendants.
When we get weak like above, we need to do what the psalmist does here: he recalls the LORD’s accomplishments and the wonders He did long ago. He meditates on how God created the world and all that is in it. He thinks about how He destroyed the world and everything on it by a flood, but saved humanity through eight people. He ponders the choosing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, bringing their descendants to Egypt to grow and then delivering them from the Egyptians with His strong hand. We would do well to ponder these things along with the incarnation, suffering, death and resurrection of our LORD Jesus Christ for us. He is the right hand of the Most High who does not change. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
(Music) 16The waters saw You, O God, the waters saw You and shook; yes, they were stirred to the depths. 17The clouds poured down water; the skies thundered and Your arrows darted. 18Your thunder rumbled in the sky; lightning flashes lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook. 19You tread through the sea; Your path went through great waters; yet no one could tell where You walked. 20You led Your people like a flock by the hands of Moses and Aaron.
He recalls how the LORD delivered them through the Red Sea, bringing them through the middle on dry land and then killing the pursuing Egyptians by covering them with the water. We recall how Jesus was baptized, was tempted, crucified, dead, buried, resurrected and ascended to the right hand of the Father. He now joins Himself to us through baptism and leads us like a flock through this tumultuous world to the world to come. Jesus is only seen now through the means of grace; the Word, Baptism, Absolution, the LORD’s Supper and the Church’s Absolution.
Heavenly Father, when we are weak and fear You have changed, give us Your Holy Spirit so we can recall all Your great saving deeds You have performed for us through You Son, Jesus Christ, our LORD to the effect we may be comforted and strengthened in our faith. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.