To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.
I cried out to God with my voice — to God with my voice and He gave ear to me. (Psalm 77:1)
It is acknowledged in Jewish commentary that the psalmist Asaph possessed a unique gift — the ability to find something to sing about even in the worst conditions. Of course as we’ve been discussing over the last several devotions, for God’s people, exile is as bad as it gets. There is the separation from the land of promise and all that it entails. Then there is the oppression and persecution, not to mention shame, that comes with being under the heel of those who deny God’s sovereignty and power. In those circumstances, the only weapon left to God’s people is their voice; Asaph raised his in appeal to the Most High.
When Israel first began to sojourn in Egypt, their existence was marked with prosperity and favor but over the years, they turned from God and embraced everything Egyptian including their gods. In time, their fortunes soured and the Egyptians grew to despise them and eventually forced them into servitude. Suffering long and hard years left them weak, vulnerable and defenseless save the one weapon that remained in their possession. When the people, in a collective voice, began to cry out for deliverance, the Lord of the Universe heard and He answered.
It is written, “The children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob” (Exodus 2:23-24). When God heard their voices call to Him, He began to take action on their behalf. The same God who heard them hears us; when we cry out to the Lord with pure hearts and intentions, He hears and, according to His will and purpose, He answers. That being so, I would argue that when we are feeling weak, vulnerable and defenseless, we are actually being empowered. Because when we realize that there is only One who can save, and we raise our voice to Him, He will give ear to us deliver us from our circumstances.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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