Psalms 77

1 (76-1) <Unto the end, for Idithun, a psalm of Asaph.> (76-2) I cried to the Lord with my voice; to God with my voice, and he gave ear to me.

2 (76-3) In the days of my trouble I sought God, with my hands lifted up to him in the night, and I was not deceived. My soul refused to be comforted:

3 (76-4) I remembered God, and was delighted, and was exercised, and my spirit swooned away.

4 (76-5) My eyes prevented the watches: I was troubled, and I spoke not.

5 (76-6) I thought upon the days of old: and I had in my mind the eternal years.

6 (76-7) And I meditated in the night with my own heart: and I was exercised and I swept my spirit.

7 (76-8) Will God then cast off for ever? or will he never be more favourable again?

8 (76-9) Or will he cut off his mercy for ever, from generation to generation?

9 (76-10) Or will God forget to shew mercy? or will he in his anger shut up his mercies?

10 (76-11) And I said, Now have I begun: this is the change of the right hand of the most High.

11 (76-12) I remembered the works of the Lord: for I will be mindful of thy wonders from the beginning.

12 (76-13) And I will meditate on all thy works: and will be employed in thy inventions.

13 (76-14) Thy way, O God, is in the holy place: who is the great God like our God?

14 (76-15) Thou art the God that dost wonders. Thou hast made thy power known among the nations:

15 (76-16) With thy arm thou hast redeemed thy people the children of Jacob and of Joseph.

16 (76-17) The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee: and they were afraid, and the depths were troubled.

17 (76-18) Great was the noise of the waters: the clouds sent out a sound. For thy arrows pass:

18 (76-19) The voice of thy thunder in a wheel. Thy lightnings enlightened the world: the earth shook and trembled.

19 (76-20) Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in many waters: and thy footsteps shall not be known.

20 (76-21) Thou hast conducted thy people like sheep, by the hand 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Verses 1-10 Days of trouble must be days of prayer; when God seems to have withdrawn from us, we must seek him till we find him.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.

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.