For the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm by Asaph.
1My cry goes to God!
Indeed, I cry to God for help,
and for him to listen to me.
2In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord.
My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn’t get tired.
My soul refused to be comforted.
3I remember God, and I groan.
I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah.
4You hold my eyelids open.
I am so troubled that I can’t speak.
5I have considered the days of old,
the years of ancient times.
6I remember my song in the night.
I consider in my own heart;
my spirit diligently inquires:
7“Will the Lord reject us forever?
Will he be favorable no more?
8Has his loving kindness vanished forever?
Does his promise fail for generations?
9Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he, in anger, withheld his compassion?” Selah.
10Then I thought, “I will appeal to this:
the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
11I will remember Yah’s deeds;
for I will remember your wonders of old.
12I will also meditate on all your work,
and consider your doings.
13Your way, God, is in the sanctuary.
What god is great like God?
14You are the God who does wonders.
You have made your strength known among the peoples.
15You have redeemed your people with your arm,
the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
16The waters saw you, God.
The waters saw you, and they writhed.
The depths also convulsed.
17The clouds poured out water.
The skies resounded with thunder.
Your arrows also flashed around.
18The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind.
The lightnings lit up the world.
The earth trembled and shook.
19Your way was through the sea,
your paths through the great waters.
Your footsteps were not known.
20You led your people like a flock,
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, born immediately after Esau, and Abraham was his grandfather. He achieved the right of the firstborn by trickery, in offering his older brother, Esau, food in exchange for the birthright, who cared little for this position. He also received the blessing of firstborn from his father Jacob before his death by cunning, and with the assistance of his mother Rebekah.
After his deception of Esau, receiving the blessing from his father, Jacob escaped to his uncle Laban, who in turn deceived Jacob into working for fourteen years for the marriage of Jacob to Leah, and then his beloved Rachel. Laban also sought to deceive Jacob of wages, but God intervened to ensure he would prosper. In a time of trial, when he feared the wrath of Esau, upon returning to the land of Canaan, Jacob had an encounter with God, and his name was changed to Israel, the one who wrestles with God. Even though his early life was characterized by deception, God worked through the situation to ensure that Jacob would be the one in the line of the patriarchs, to create a great nation and ultimately fulfill His purposes in the earth, especially through the future Messiah. The Messiah would guarantee the promise of the land to Abram and a person who would rule over Abraham's descendants, but also He would bring blessings to all the people of the earth (Gen 12:1-3).
In spite of Jacob's early failure by deception, God worked through him, and finally, Jacob became a different type of man after his struggle with God. As one has said,
"Despite Jacob’s faults, God chose him to be the leader of a great nation that still bears his name today. But for this, it is unlikely that we would know much about Jacob, who appears to be in the middle of events while the key players are those around him. There is no great wisdom or bravery in Jacob to speak of, and we are tempted to see him as little more than God’s passive instrument. If we are tempted to think that, because we aren’t in the spotlight performing great acts for God, we are unimportant to Him, then we should consider the life of Jacob and know that, in spite of our failings, God can and will still use us in His plan."
For more on Jacob, see "Who was Jacob in the Bible?", https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Jacob.html