Psalms 77

Psalm 77

1

For the music leader. According to Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.

1 I cry out loud to God— out loud to God so that he can hear me!

2 During the day when I'm in trouble I look for my Lord. At night my hands are still outstretched and don't grow numb; my whole being refuses to be comforted.

3 I remember God and I moan. I complain, and my spirit grows tired. Selah

4 You've kept my eyelids from closing. I'm so upset I can't even speak.

5 I think about days long past; I remember years that seem an eternity in the past.

6 I meditate with my heart at night; I complain, and my spirit keeps searching:

7 "Will my Lord reject me forever? Will he never be pleased again?

8 Has his faithful love come to a complete end? Is his promise over for future generations?

9 Has God forgotten how to be gracious? Has he angrily stopped up his compassion?" Selah

10 It's my misfortune, I thought, that the strong hand of the Most High is different now.

11 But I will remember the LORD's deeds; yes, I will remember your wondrous acts from times long past.

12 I will meditate on all your works; I will ponder your deeds.

13 God, your way is holiness! Who is as great a god as you, God?

14 You are the God who works wonders; you have demonstrated your strength among all peoples.

15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people; redeemed the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

16 The waters saw you, God— the waters saw you and reeled! Even the deep depths shook!

17 The clouds poured water, the skies cracked thunder; your arrows were flying all around!

18 The crash of your thunder was in the swirling storm; lightning lit up the whole world; the earth shook and quaked.

19 Your way went straight through the sea; your pathways went right through the mighty waters. But your footprints left no trace!

20 You led your people like sheep under the care of Moses and Aaron.

Psalms 77 Commentary

Chapter 77

The psalmist's troubles and temptation. (1-10) He encourages himself by the remembrance of God's help of his people. (11-20)

Verses 1-10 Days of trouble must be days of prayer; when God seems to have withdrawn from us, we must seek him till we find him. In the day of his trouble the psalmist did not seek for the diversion of business or amusement, but he sought God, and his favor and grace. Those that are under trouble of mind, must pray it away. He pored upon the trouble; the methods that should have relieved him did but increase his grief. When he remembered God, it was only the Divine justice and wrath. His spirit was overwhelmed, and sank under the load. But let not the remembrance of the comforts we have lost, make us unthankful for those that are left. Particularly he called to remembrance the comforts with which he supported himself in former sorrows. Here is the language of a sorrowful, deserted soul, walking in darkness; a common case even among those that fear the Lord, ( Isaiah 50:10 ) . Nothing wounds and pierces like the thought of God's being angry. God's own people, in a cloudy and dark day, may be tempted to make wrong conclusions about their spiritual state, and that of God's kingdom in the world. But we must not give way to such fears. Let faith answer them from the Scripture. The troubled fountain will work itself clear again; and the recollection of former times of joyful experience often raises a hope, tending to relief. Doubts and fears proceed from the want and weakness of faith. Despondency and distrust under affliction, are too often the infirmities of believers, and, as such, are to be thought upon by us with sorrow and shame. When, unbelief is working in us, we must thus suppress its risings.

Verses 11-20 The remembrance of the works of God, will be a powerful remedy against distrust of his promise and goodness; for he is God, and changes not. God's way is in the sanctuary. We are sure that God is holy in all his works. God's ways are like the deep waters, which cannot be fathomed; like the way of a ship, which cannot be tracked. God brought Israel out of Egypt. This was typical of the great redemption to be wrought out in the fulness of time, both by price and power. If we have harboured doubtful thoughts, we should, without delay, turn our minds to meditate on that God, who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, that with him, he might freely give us all things.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or soul
• [b]. LXX; MT I remember my song in the night.

Chapter Summary

To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. Jeduthun was the name of the chief musician, to whom this psalm was inscribed and sent; see 1 Chronicles 25:1, though Aben Ezra takes it to be the first word of some song, to the tune of which this was sung; and the Midrash interprets it of the subject of the psalm, which is followed by Jarchi, who explains it thus, "concerning the decrees and judgments which passed upon Israel;" that is, in the time of their present captivity, to which, as he, Kimchi, and Arama think, the whole psalm belongs. Some interpreters refer it to the affliction of the Jews in Babylon, so Theodoret; or under Ahasuerus, or Antiochus; and others to the great and last distress of the church under antichrist; though it seems to express the particular case of the psalmist, and which is common to other saints.