Psalms 77
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“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” — John 5:39
1I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
PSALM 77
Psa 77:1-20. To Jeduthun--(See on Psa 39:1, title). In a time of great affliction, when ready to despair, the Psalmist derives relief from calling to mind God's former and wonderful works of delivering power and grace.
1. expresses the purport of the Psalm.
2In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
2. his importunacy.
my sore ran ... night--literally, "my hand was spread," or, "stretched out" (compare Psa 44:20).
ceased not--literally, "grew not numb," or, "feeble" (Ge 45:26; Psa 38:8).
my soul ... comforted--(compare Ge 37:35; Jr 31:15).
3I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
3-9. His sad state contrasted with former joys.
was troubled--literally, "violently agitated," or disquieted (Psa 39:6; 41:5).
my spirit was overwhelmed--or, "fainted" (Psa 107:5; Jon 2:7).
4Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
6I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
7Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
8Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?
9Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
10And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
10. Omitting the supplied words, we may read, "This is my affliction--the years of," &c., "years" being taken as parallel to affliction (compare Psa 90:15), as of God's ordering.
11I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
11-12. He finds relief in contrasting God's former deliverances. Shall we receive good at His hands, and not evil? Both are orderings of unerring mercy and unfailing love.
12I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
13Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
13. Thy way ... in the sanctuary--God's ways of grace and providence (Psa 22:3; 67:2), ordered on holy principles, as developed in His worship; or implied in His perfections, if "holiness" be used for "sanctuary," as some prefer translating (compare Ex 15:11).
14Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
14-20. Illustrations of God's power in His special interventions for His people (Ex 14:1-31), and, in the more common, but sublime, control of nature (Psa 22:11-14; Ha 3:14) which may have attended those miraculous events (Ex 14:24).
15Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
16The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
17The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
18The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
19Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
20Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
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