Psalms 77 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Psalm 77

In the Day of Trouble I Seek the Lord

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

77:1   I cry aloud to God,
    aloud to God, and he will hear me.
2   In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
    in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
    my soul refuses to be comforted.
3   When I remember God, I moan;
    when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah
4   You hold my eyelids open;
    I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5   I consider the days of old,
    the years long ago.
6   I said,¹ “Let me remember my song in the night;
    let me meditate in my heart.”
    Then my spirit made a diligent search:
7   “Will the Lord spurn forever,
    and never again be favorable?
8   Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
    Are his promises at an end for all time?
9   Has God forgotten to be gracious?
    Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah
10   Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
    to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”²
11   I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
    yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
12   I will ponder all your work,
    and meditate on your mighty deeds.
13   Your way, O God, is holy.
    What god is great like our God?
14   You are the God who works wonders;
    you have made known your might among the peoples.
15   You with your arm redeemed your people,
    the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16   When the waters saw you, O God,
    when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
    indeed, the deep trembled.
17   The clouds poured out water;
    the skies gave forth thunder;
    your arrows flashed on every side.
18   The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
    your lightnings lighted up the world;
    the earth trembled and shook.
19   Your way was through the sea,
    your path through the great waters;
    yet your footprints were unseen.³
20   You led your people like a flock
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Footnotes

[1] 77:6 Hebrew lacks I said
[2] 77:10 Or This is my grief: that the right hand of the Most High has changed
[3] 77:19 Hebrew unknown

Commentary

A prayer in time of trouble; by Asaph, for (or to) Jeduthun (see titles of Ps 39; 62); a title for Israel. We remember God in our times of trouble.

v1-3: Prayer; calling out to God in the day of trouble, for no one else can help. Here is persistence in prayer; sometimes we need to know that God has heard. The psalmist speaks of a real commitment and effort in his praying.

v4-6: Meditation; trying to work things out; but he was unsettled, troubled, overwhelmed; he called past blessings to help him understand.

v7-9: God's apparent inactivity; six questions, ultimately he can answer, 'No' to each one. But at this point he feels abandoned by God; this feeling is representative of the feelings of many godly in Israel.

v10: 'This is my anguish,' referring to the previous verses. Be careful of words spoken in times of extremity, or in deep emotion, whether anguish or joy, Matt 12.36; the 'old man' may come out more in these times, as godly restraint is lost.

The years of God's work; His blessings and greatness reflect an unchanging, eternal, holy God. The psalmist now looks back to God's blessings, and is given strength to cope with today's trials. See Judg 6.13, where Gideon asks about past blessings. Our prayer is that we will enjoy the blessings of God today.

v11-12: Remember God's works, meditate on them, and talk of them. God does not change, even though He does not repeat exactly the works of a previous age. Ps 72.18; God's character is such that He only does wondrous things. I can remember works done in my life, as He has changed my character and attitudes.

The Hebrew language has no word for history. The word used is "remember." The Hebrew word ZAKHOR carries the idea that people, not events, are central; thus, the Psalmist is recalling past blessings received by the same people. The question, 'what happened?' is less important than 'Who am I?'

v13: The sanctuary, where God is; this is the place where we find answers, Ps 73.17.

v14: God at work, in power, and on behalf of His people.

v15: Works of redemption, bringing out a people for His praise and glory.

v16-19: The mighty power of God; these words remain true, whatever our experience today.

v20: He leads His people like a flock; real guidance by God; for us the source of security and confidence.