Psalm 77

1 Dem Vorsänger, für Jeduthun. Von Asaph, ein Psalm. Meine Stimme ist zu Gott, und ich will schreien; meine Stimme ist zu Gott, und er wird mir Gehör schenken.

2 Am Tage meiner Drangsal suchte ich den Herrn; meine Hand war des Nachts ausgestreckt und ließ nicht ab; meine Seele weigerte sich getröstet zu werden.

3 Ich gedachte Gottes, und ich stöhnte; ich sann nach, und mein Geist ermattete. (Sela.)

4 Du hieltest fest die Lider meiner Augen; ich war voll Unruhe und redete nicht.

5 Ich durchdachte die Tage vor alters, die Jahre der Urzeit.

6 Ich gedachte meines Saitenspiels in der Nacht; ich sann nach in meinem Herzen, und es forschte mein Geist.

7 Wird der Herr auf ewig verwerfen, und hinfort keine Gunst mehr erweisen?

8 Ist zu Ende seine Güte für immer? Hat das Wort aufgehört von Geschlecht zu Geschlecht?

9 Hat Gott vergessen gnädig zu sein? Hat er im Zorn verschlossen seine Erbarmungen? (Sela.)

10 Da sprach ich: Das ist mein Kranksein. Der Jahre der Rechten des Höchsten,

11 will ich gedenken, der Taten des Jah; denn deiner Wunder von alters her will ich gedenken;

12 und ich will nachdenken über all dein Tun, und über deine Taten will ich sinnen.

13 Gott! Dein Weg ist im Heiligtum; wer ist ein großer Gott wie Gott?

14 Du bist der Gott, der Wunder tut, du hast deine Stärke kundwerden lassen unter den Völkern.

15 Du hast dein Volk erlöst mit erhobenem Arm, die Söhne Jakobs und Josephs. (Sela.)

16 Dich sahen die Wasser, o Gott, dich sahen die Wasser: sie bebten; ja, es erzitterten die Tiefen.

17 Die Wolken ergossen Wasser; das Gewölk ließ eine Stimme erschallen, und deine Pfeile fuhren hin und her.

18 Die Stimme deines Donners war im Wirbelwind, Blitze erleuchteten den Erdkreis; es zitterte und bebte die Erde.

19 Im Meere ist dein Weg, und deine Pfade in großen Wassern, und deine Fußstapfen sind nicht bekannt.

20 Du hast dein Volk geleitet wie eine Herde durch die Hand Moses und Aarons.

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Verses 1-10 Days of trouble must be days of prayer; when God seems to have withdrawn from us, we must seek him till we find him.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