Mighty Redeemer | Psalm 77:11-15

Last week, I wrote about practicing gratitude to overcome anxiety. If you didn’t get a chance to read that post, I recommend going back and reading that first since what you’re about to read here closely relates to that theme. But today, we’re going to reflect on Psalm 77 – remembering God’s great works and that He is our Mighty Redeemer.

Scripture

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; [and] have made known your might among the peoples. You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah” –Psalm 77:11-15

Context

If you have time, I recommend reading this entire Psalm because it’s so powerful to see where verses 11-15 appear in context. Verses 1-9 give us a deep look into the intense sorrow and doubt the psalmist was experiencing. But instead of dwelling on the depth and pain of his depression and grief, he intentionally redirects his focus.

The psalmist’s words in verses 11-15 are filled with praise and hope as he remembers God’s mighty works of the past, His holiness, and His power to redeem. In short, he essentially says, “God, I will continually reflect on Your mighty works because You are great! You are set apart! By Your power You have redeemed Your people!”

Key Attribute of God: Mighty Redeemer

As we read the Bible, whether we’re in the Old or New Testament, it’s important to be on the lookout for attributes of God and glimpses of Jesus and the Gospel. This passage points us directly to Christ and we see many of His attributes exemplified in these verses. However, the main characteristic that stands out to me is how God is our Mighty Redeemer.

We see over the course of this short Psalm how God redeems the psalmist from his deep pit of depression and doubt by reminding him of who He is and what He has done. But, on an even greater scale, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness to redeem all of His people. There are many stories of God’s redemptive power throughout the Old Testament which point us to His ultimate plan of redemption through Christ. Jesus came into the world to save sinners so that all who repent and believe in Him, His death, and resurrection will be saved. He alone is our Mighty Redeemer.

Our Response

Now that we’ve read and reflected on this passage, it’s time to consider how we’ll respond. James 1:22 says we deceive ourselves if we are only hearers of the Word. We must be doers of the Word. So how will you respond to this passage? I’ve come up with some suggestions and questions for us to consider:

Things to Remember:

God has made known His might to us. Therefore, read the Bible! Read the Old and New Testament. Discover the many stories of His power and redemption that point us to Christ!

God’s track record. Look back on His mighty works in Scripture and reflect on the mighty works He has done in your own life.

God is our Mighty Redeemer. By His power, He overcame sin and death to save us.

Questions to Think About:

When you are depressed, anxious, fearful, stressed out, or sorrowful, how do you currently respond? How do you want to respond in the future?

The psalmist could have allowed his feelings to completely overtake him. His pain was real and deep, but he shifted his focus to God. What steps will you take in your own life to be more like the psalmist? It’s okay to grieve when we are in pain, but we must be careful not to allow sorrow to take over our lives. There is a biblical way to grieve. With that in mind, will you choose to dwell on the size of your problems and the depth of your pain or will you fix your eyes on the mighty power of God?

How might continually reflecting on Jesus and the Gospel impact your thoughts and actions?

Things to Do:

Respond to hardship and sorrow with praise and gratitude – Thanking our Mighty Redeemer for all He has done in the past and in our own personal lives.

Build our lives on the foundation of God’s Word in greater measure. Read, study, memorize, and meditate on Scripture to keep our eyes focused on His character, His promises, and His track record.

Respond to thoughts of doubt with statements of truth. Choose to believe in what God says in the Bible, not what we are personally feeling in a given moment.

Pray

Let’s close today’s post by praying to our Mighty Redeemer. Read this prayer slowly, out loud, making it your own.

Lord God, thank You for communicating who You are, what You promise, and what You’ve done through Your Word. You are holy; greater than man-made gods. There is no other like You – You are the one true God. Lord, I confess my forgetfulness, my lack of trust, and when I have allowed worry, stress, despair, and doubt to overtake me. Jesus, thank You for being our Mighty Redeemer. Thank You for dying on the cross for all my sins – these included. Help me to remember what I just read and learned, and reveal to me how You want me to respond today. In Your name I pray ~ Amen.

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Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.