Songs in the Night

SCRIPTURE:  I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked: “Will the Lord reject forever?  Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” Psalm 77:6-12 NIV

THOUGHT: It might not be very holy of me, but the questions of the ancient songwriter here make me smile. There are a series of juxtapositions like “unfailing love” and “vanished forever” that just beg us to see the irony of thinking that it would be possible for something called unfailing love to vanish, and forever. It wouldn’t really be unfailing, would it? In the same way, a promise that fails isn’t a promise at all, is it? God doesn’t fail. God doesn’t forget mercy or compassion, even in anger. We forget God.

Like us, the ancient songwriter, Asaph, starts by remembering his songs in the night…the strains that kept him awake, the notes that were discordant and the words that didn’t make sense. Then he stops remembering his own troubles, and starts remembering God’s faithfulness. God’s own songs. He considers and meditates. He does a long remembering and it gives him courage for the journey ahead.

I once wrote my own version of Asaph’s song:
Songs in the night are a curious kind
Born in the dark when I suddenly find that I’m
Back from the rubble with stories to tell
Forged on the road between heaven and hell
Raised from the ashes of all that has failed
Back from the rubble with stories to tell

So, next time you find yourself awake deep in the night, worrying, practice the Greek word for remembering, anamnesis. Think of it as “against amnesia.” Don’t let amnesia about God’s faithfulness take you down. You have stories to tell – tell them to your heart, and to another fellow traveler in need of some reminding.

SONG: Remember to Remember https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJz_rv5qC4s

PRAYER: I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds. Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. (Ps. 77:11-14 NIV)