Psalms77

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¹ I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.

² When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted.

³ I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.

⁴ You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak.

⁵ I thought about the former days, the years of long ago;

⁶ I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

⁷ “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again?

⁸ Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?

⁹ Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

¹⁰ Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.

¹¹ I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

¹² I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

¹³ Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?

¹⁴ You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

¹⁵ With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

¹⁶ The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed.

¹⁷ The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth.

¹⁸ Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.

¹⁹ Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.

²⁰ You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

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Psalms 77

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 77. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

Chapter Summary

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

vv1-10

Days of trouble must be days of prayer; when God seems to have withdrawn from us, we must seek him till we find him.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, Isa 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.

vv11-20

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.

Key Words

choirmasterH5329Hebrew

נָצַח: properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of the Temple services and its music); to be permanent

accordingH5921Hebrew

עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

JeduthunH3038Hebrew

יְדוּתוּן: Jeduthun, an Israelite

PsalmH4210Hebrew

מִזְמוֹר: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes

AsaphH623Hebrew

אָסָף: Asaph, the name of three Israelites, and of the family of the first

cryH6817Hebrew

צָעַק: to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly)

aloudH6963Hebrew

קוֹל: a voice or sound

GodH430Hebrew

אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative

hearH238Hebrew

אָזַן: to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen

dayH3117Hebrew

יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)

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