Psalms 77:5

5 I considered the days of old, the years long in the past.

Psalms 77:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 77:5

I have considered the days of old
Either the former part of his life, the various occurrences of it, how it had been with him in time past, what experience he had had of the divine goodness; so the Syriac version renders it, "I have considered my days of old"; or the preceding age, and what has happened in that, which his ancestors had acquainted him with; or rather many ages past, from the days of Adam to the then present time; at least it may include the Israelites coming out of Egypt, their passage through the Red sea and wilderness, the times of the judges, and what befell them in their days, and how they were delivered out of their troubles; as appears from the latter part of the psalm, and with which agrees the following clause:

the years of ancient times;
or, "of ages" ^F14; of times long ago past; it is very useful to read the history of the Bible, with respect to ancient times, and so the ecclesiastical history of ages past, and observe the faith and dependence of the Lord's people upon him, and their deliverance out of trouble by him; which may be a means of strengthening faith in him, and of relief under present trials; but frequently the goodness of former times is only observed as an aggravation of the badness of the present ones, and of trouble in them; see ( Ecclesiastes 7:10 ) , the Targum interprets the whole of happy days and times, paraphrasing it thus,

``I have mentioned the good days which were of old, the good years which were of ages past.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 (Mymlwe twnv) "annos seculorum", Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Piscator, Cocceius, Gejerus.

Psalms 77:5 In-Context

3 I remembered You, O God, and I groaned; I mused and my spirit grew faint. Selah

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

5 I considered the days of old, the years long in the past.

6 At night I remembered my song; in my heart I mused, and my spirit pondered:

7 “Will the Lord spurn us forever and never show His favor again?