Psalm 77

1 Ein Psalm Asaphs für Jeduthun, vorzusingen. Ich schreie mit meiner Stimme zu Gott; zu Gott schreie ich, und er erhört mich.

2 In der Zeit der Not suche ich den HERRN; meine Hand ist des Nachts ausgereckt und läßt nicht ab; denn meine Seele will sich nicht trösten lassen.

3 Wenn ich betrübt bin, so denke ich an Gott; wenn mein Herz in ängsten ist, so rede ich. (Sela.)

4 Meine Augen hältst du, daß sie wachen; ich bin so ohnmächtig, daß ich nicht reden kann.

5 Ich denke der alten Zeit, der vorigen Jahre.

6 Ich denke des Nachts an mein Saitenspiel und rede mit meinem Herzen; mein Geist muß forschen.

7 Wird denn der HERR ewiglich verstoßen und keine Gnade mehr erzeigen?

8 Ist's denn ganz und gar aus mit seiner Güte, und hat die Verheißung ein Ende?

9 Hat Gott vergessen, gnädig zu sein, und seine Barmherzigkeit vor Zorn verschlossen? (Sela.)

10 Aber doch sprach ich: Ich muß das leiden; die rechte Hand des Höchsten kann alles ändern.

11 Darum gedenke ich an die Taten des HERRN; ja, ich gedenke an deine vorigen Wunder

12 und rede von allen deinen Werken und sage von deinem Tun.

13 Gott, dein Weg ist heilig. Wo ist so ein mächtiger Gott, als du, Gott, bist?

14 Du bist der Gott, der Wunder tut; du hast deine Macht bewiesen unter den Völkern.

15 Du hast dein Volk erlöst mit Macht, die Kinder Jakobs und Josephs. (Sela.)

16 Die Wasser sahen dich, Gott, die Wasser sahen dich und ängsteten sich, und die Tiefen tobten.

17 Die dicken Wolken gossen Wasser, die Wolken donnerten, und die Strahlen fuhren daher.

18 Es donnerte im Himmel, deine Blitze leuchteten auf dem Erdboden; das Erdreich regte sich und bebte davon.

19 Dein Weg war im Meer und dein Pfad in großen Wassern, und man spürte doch deinen Fuß nicht.

20 Du führtest dein Volk wie eine Herde Schafe durch Mose und Aaron.

Psalm 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Verses 1-10 Days of trouble must be days of prayer; when God seems to have withdrawn from us, we must seek him till we find him.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.

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.