Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Chapter 4: Psalms 60–80

141

Psalm 77 with Augustine – Desiring God I cried out to God for help (v. 1). But many cry to the Lord for the sake of getting riches and avoiding losses, for the safety of their friends, for the security of their house, for temporal happiness, for secular dignity, lastly, even for physical health, which is the inheritance of the poor. For things like this many cry to the Lord; hardly anyone cries for the Lord himself. For it is an easy thing to desire something from the Lord, and not to desire the Lord himself, as if his gifts could be sweeter than the giver. He listens to you when you seek him, but not when you seek anything else from him. It has been said of some, “They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—to the LORD, but he did not answer” (Ps 18:41). Why? Because their voice was not to the Lord. And what then has happened to them? “They all lose heart; they come trembling” (Ps 18:45). They have trembled about the loss of present things, for they were not full of him upon whom they did not call. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord (v. 2). Who are you who do this? In the day of hardship take care what you seek. If a jail is the cause of hardship, you seek to get out of jail. If fever is the cause of hardship, you seek health. If hunger is the cause of hardship, you seek fullness. If loss is the cause of hardship, you seek gain. If exile is the cause of hardship, you seek home. And why should I name all things? In the day of your hardship seek God, not some other thing from God. Out of hardship, seek God himself, so that for this purpose God may take away hardship, so you may cling to him without anxiety.