Psalms77

World English Bible · Public Domain

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¹ My cry goes to God! Indeed, I cry to God for help, and for him to listen to me.

² In 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.

³ I remember God, and I groan. I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah.

⁴ You hold my eyelids open. I am so troubled that I can’t speak.

⁵ I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.

⁶ I 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?

⁸ Has his loving kindness vanished forever? Does his promise fail for generations?

⁹ Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he, in anger, withheld his compassion?” Selah.

¹⁰ Then I thought, “I will appeal to this: the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

¹¹ I will remember Yah’s deeds; for I will remember your wonders of old.

¹² I will also meditate on all your work, and consider your doings.

¹³ Your way, God, is in the sanctuary. What god is great like God?

¹⁴ You are the God who does wonders. You have made your strength known among the peoples.

¹⁵ You have redeemed your people with your arm, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

¹⁶ The waters saw you, God. The waters saw you, and they writhed. The depths also convulsed.

¹⁷ The clouds poured out water. The skies resounded with thunder. Your arrows also flashed around.

¹⁸ The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind. The lightnings lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.

¹⁹ Your way was through the sea, your paths through the great waters. Your footsteps were not known.

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

Study

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Days of trouble must be days of prayer; when God seems to have withdrawn from us, we must seek him till we find him.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