Psalms 77:1-7

1 ^[a]I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.

2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted.

3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.^[b]

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

5 I thought about the former days, the years of long ago;

6 I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

7 “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again?

Psalms 77:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

1 I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.

2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted.

3 I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.

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

5 I thought about the former days, the years of long ago;

6 I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked:

7 “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again?

8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?

9 Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand.

11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

1. S 1 Kings 8:52; Psalms 3:4
2. S Genesis 32:7; S 2 Samuel 22:7; S Psalms 118:5; Psalms 50:15; Isaiah 26:9,16
3. Psalms 6:6; Psalms 22:2; Psalms 88:1
4. S Exodus 9:29; S Job 11:13
5. S Genesis 37:35; Matthew 2:18
6. Psalms 78:35
7. Exodus 2:23; S Psalms 6:6; Jeremiah 45:3
8. S Psalms 6:2; Psalms 143:4
9. S Psalms 39:2
10. Deuteronomy 32:7; Psalms 44:1; Psalms 143:5; Ecclesiastes 7:10; Isaiah 51:9
11. S 1 Chronicles 28:9
12. Psalms 85:1; Psalms 102:13; Psalms 106:4

[a]. In Hebrew texts 77:1-20 is numbered 77:2-21.
[b]. The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 9 and 15.