psalms 77 commentary

By | December 30, 2020

A Psalm. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Given the lack of understanding on the part of the saints, and the rapidly worsening conditions afflicting the nation, and their doubt is easily understood. All other rights reserved. Even today, when men are tempted to doubt because of conditions in the world which seem contrary to all truth and righteousness, it is the duty of all believers to "trust where they cannot see." The tone of the Psalm surely changes at 77:11-20. He liquidated the kingdom and sent the residue of it to Babylon, where, through generations of hardship, the righteous remnant were given the privilege of re-focusing their love, not upon an earthly state, but upon the godly lives required in those who really desired to be a part of God's "chosen people.". It is a clear and judicious explanation of the text, and cannot be dispensed with. Psalms 77:15. As Kidner said, "All of the words here are a true picture of God's sway over nature. What a spur to invention earthly calamities are! doth his promise fail for evermore? The terrible doubt and sorrow that depressed God's faithful remnant among the notoriously apostate people of Israel in the period ending in their Babylonian captivity must indeed have reached epic proportions. 77:10-15 comprise a strophe (cf. The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures is published by Jehovah’s Witnesses. 77 I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. PSALM 77 COMME TARY EDITED BY GLE PEASE For the director of music. Of Asaph. Selah. 77:10-15 comprise a strophe (cf. 3. Asaph was the great singer and musician of David and Solomon’s era (1 Chronicles 15:17-19, 16:5-7; 2 Chronicles 29:13). Psalms 77:17 - The clouds poured out water; The skies gave forth a sound; Your arrows flashed here and there. I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds. It was indeed a time of darkness and doubt for all of them. 13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? Baal, for example, was the storm God; but Baal never did anything, even in the false claims of mythology, that could be compared to what God did at the Red Sea. This, of course, is the view of Briggs who said, "Psalms 77 is a composite";[10] and the last five verses, "Describe the advent of Yahweh in a storm."[11]. I TRODUCTIO SPURGEO , "TITLE. 77… Trust in God is an... 2. Psalm 77 vividly illustrates this point. It was required by the gross wickedness of the vast majority of racial Israel. "Thou hast redeemed thy people ... sons of Jacob and Joseph" (Psalms 77:15). Psalm 77:11 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Psalm 77:11, NIV: "I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago." The complaints seem to be of personal grievances, but the encouragements relate to the public concerns of the church, so that it is not certain whether it was penned upon a personal or a public account. Psalm 77. Selah. Psalm 77:1-20—Read the Bible online or download free. 1 I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. 19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. 14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: My hand was stretched out in the night, and slacked not; I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. As Dummelow noted, this is a clear reference to, "God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt. When I was in distress, I Selah. This psalm is titled To the Chief Musician.On stringed instruments. Later versions render this, "Thy way is holy," but that seriously weakens the passage. NKJV, JPSOA). A Psalm of Asaph. Commentary on Psalm 77:1-10. Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible - Old Testament Psalm 77 (Chapter LXXVII Study) This psalm, according to the method of many other psalms, begins with sorrowful complaints but ends with comfortable encouragements. Here the psalmist acknowledges that all of those doubts and misgivings are his own infirmity, not God's. God heard his prayer and gave him peace."[5]. JOSEPH A ALEXANDER Psalms Commentary (1864) Spurgeon had high praise for Alexander's work writing that it "Occupies a first place among expositions. He can send help again to the *psalmist, if the *psalmist waits. Copyright StatementJames Burton Coffman Commentaries reproduced by permission of Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. "[8] Rawlinson likewise called these verses, "A magnificent description of the deliverance of Israel at the Red Sea."[9]. It could be that this information is supplementary to that given in Exodus; and we do not rule that out as a possibility. Perhaps there is no one single safeguard against such calamities in... 3. 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. I cried out to God for help;I cried out to God to hear me. The psalmist went on to mention others. A psalm. It was no slackening of God's love for his people that brought about the traumatic experience of the exile. It appears to us that Dummelow's analysis of this psalm is as good as any. 1983-1999. 1 Chronicles 25:1 and 2 Chronicles 29:30 add that Asaph was a prophet in his musical compositions. "God's in his heaven," all right, "But all is not well with the world." We do not know who wrote Psalm 77. "Selah" appears at the end of Ps. Psalm 77:11, KJV: "I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old." Commentary, Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 | Jonathan Sprang | Arts Pastor, Catalyst Community Church | A Plain Account, 2016 "Lament Psalms give us a great place to offer our people the words to say when going through tough times." God's way is always in and through the institution which he has created to establish and nourish faith. His ways are above our ways; he has not revealed to men the reasons behind any of his actions; his deeds, as far as men are concerned, are indeed inscrutable. At this point, as if lost in an ecstasy, he hurriedly closes … Bibliography InformationCoffman, James Burton. Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 77:9, which may imply that Ps. 1 I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. The trouble was due to the cessation of God's blessings upon national Israel in the manner that he had once so gloriously done. on StudyLight.org Psalms 77:17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. Psalm 77 God’s Mighty Deeds Recalled. Even when He was incarnate, the winds and the waves obeyed him, and the sea provided a path for Him. "Coffman Commentaries on the Old and New Testament". Even though we do not know what it is, God surely knows what he is doing! This was another of the mighty works of God upon which the psalmist had resolved to meditate; and this was indeed a wonder. 15 Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. 18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. This writer has known persons who in some disaster, such as the sudden death of a beloved child, have turned against God in bitterness and unbelief; but such a reaction is never right. The complaints seem to be of personal grievances, but the encouragements relate to the public concerns of the church, so that it is not certain whether it was penned upon a personal or a public account. The reprobate nation fully deserved to be cut off forever, and their godless kingdom cried out to heaven for its destruction. A psalm. 1 God’s chosen people were dragged away to Babylon as slaves. Psalm 77#In Hebrew texts 77:1-20 is numbered 77:2-21.For the director of music. As Leupold expressed it, "A man is well on the way to recovery from all uncertainty and doubts when he remembers the record of God's guidance of his people in the past, and the fact of God's always providing adequate leadership for his true followers."[13]. No, God had not really "forgotten" His promise, nor shut off His mercies, nor cast off His true people, but the promises to Israel had always been conditional, that condition being their faithfulness to God; and when Israel no longer met that condition, God's blessings indeed ceased. The manna from heaven, the water from the rock, the victories over enemies, the bitter waters made sweet, the thunders of Sinai, the giving of the Law, etc., etc. That is why that such questions as these, as regarded the vast majority of ancient Israel, were indeed required to be answered affirmatively. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. 1 (To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.) Selah. A Song. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused … Psalms 77:19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. 9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? a. 1. forever, Ps. Did this mean that God had forgotten his people? 1. "I sought the Lord" (Psalms 77:2) ... "My soul refused to be comforted" (Psalms 77:2) ... "I remember God ... am disquieted ... and my spirit is overwhelmed" (Psalms 77:3). The Holy City of Jerusalem had been conquered. A Psalm of Asaph. hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? God loves his children no matter what wretched sorrows they suffer; and the heart of faith must always, "take it to the Lord in prayer." and will he be favourable no more? It was true of the ancient sanctuary for Israel, and it is true in the Church of God today. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. The tone of the Psalm surely changes at 77:11-20. 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. Psalm 77 commentary 1. "Thy way was in the sea ... paths in the great waters" (Psalms 77:19). The precious saints who still loved the Lord still prayed for the beloved nation; but God could no longer answer such prayers. How would faith be educated and developed but for the demands made upon it by the trials of life? He then announces that he will think upon the wonderful things God has done in the past for Israel. For him, the apparent gap between what he believed and what he felt was painful. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bcc/psalms-77.html. This is my anguish: We appreciate the honest anguishof Asaph in this psalm. "This is my infirmity" (Psalms 77:10). 77:9, which may imply that Ps. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. 7 Will the Lord cast off for ever? Psalm 77:3The Hebrew has Selah(a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 9 and 15. Go to, To report dead links, typos, or html errors or suggestions about making these resources more useful use our convenient, "I remember God ... am disquieted ... and my spirit is overwhelmed", "I call to remembrance my song in the night", "Thou hast made known thy strength among the peoples", "Thou hast redeemed thy people ... sons of Jacob and Joseph", "Thy way was in the sea ... paths in the great waters", Commentary Critical and Explanatory - Unabridged, Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible, Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures. "[3], "I call to remembrance my song in the night" (Psalms 77:6). 3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Days of trouble must be days of prayer; when God seems to have withdrawn from us, we must seek him till we find him. It was impossible for the righteous minority to understand why things were everywhere turning into unqualified disaster and destruction for national Israel, hence, the terrible doubt of the psalmist expressed here. Of course, God did what God had to do. The six plaintive questions of Psalms 77:7-9 are eloquent expressions indeed of the doubts and fears of the psalmist. The Story of Psalm 77. Psalm 77:5 Verse of the Day Commentary. Psalm 77 (Greek numbering: Psalm 76) is the 77th psalm in the biblical Book of Psalms. The end of the psalm tells us that God gave help in the past. "Many have been the songs that he either composed or sang; and he had once derived much spiritual comfort from them; but they gave him no help now, and aroused no feelings of confident faith."[4]. b. But I will remember: In the midst of the painful anguish between what he believed and what he felt, Asaph spoke … 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. 5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. Saints in the olden times were very fond of falling back upon the redemption of Israel out of Egypt. 8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Some scholars understand this psalm as a "national lament,"[2] and others think of it as the lament of an individual; but the simple truth seems to be that it is indeed the lament of an individual brought about by the terrible fate of the kingdom which was in the process of being providentially destroyed. "[6] This was not the only wonderful thing, however, that God had done. "By all this his mind was comforted, and his soul was made calm. Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob an Joseph. There are many conditions that upright people recognize as contrary to the will of God; and such things should not be allowed to foster doubt in Christian hearts. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary. 12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. The Book of Psalms Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET PSALM 77 Psa 77:1-20.To Jeduthun--(See on JF & B for Ps 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. These were the memories of … In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused … "Thy way is in the sanctuary" (Psalms 77:13). From Ps 77:10-15 his meditations run toward God, and in the close he seems as in a vision to behold the wonders of the Red Sea and the wilderness. It was a favorite subject of their contemplation; it yielded them great comfort, and very, very frequently they turned it … The problem with this understanding is that the account of the Red Sea crossing in Exodus says nothing about the clouds, the rain, the thunder and the lightning which are mentioned here. NKJV, JPSOA). 4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. ", "Thou holdest mine eyes watching" (Psalms 77:4). 11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. The great lesson of this psalm is that those who love God must trust him however distasteful or even disastrous may be the circumstances through which it is our duty to pass. To the Chief Musician, to Jeduthun. It was meet that another leader of the psalmody should take his turn. The psalmist reveals that Israelites gained strength and comfort by planting their faith firmly in the God who worked in history. THE PROBLEM OF HANDLING DOUBT IN DIFFICULT TIMES. "Thou hast made known thy strength among the peoples" (Psalms 77:14). To us, by far the most acceptable interpretation is that which refers these verses to the Crossing of the Red Sea. 77:7 - BDB 761 "And thy footsteps were not known" (Psalms 77:19). He strongly desired to find negative answers to all these questions, but the harsh conditions confronting the nation of Israel seemed to demand an affirmation of his worst fears, namely, that God indeed: (1) had cast off; (2) was no longer favorable; (3) His lovingkindness gone; (4) His promise had … There is no consolation, utterly no help, anywhere else. "In the Day of Trouble," Melissa Bane Sevier, Contemplative Viewfinder, 2016. Psalms 77:1-20 THE occasion of the profound sadness of the first part of this psalm may be inferred from the thoughts which brighten it into hope in the second. Psalm 77:11, ESV: "I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old." He strongly desired to find negative answers to all these questions, but the harsh conditions confronting the nation of Israel seemed to demand an affirmation of his worst fears, namely, that God indeed: (1) had cast off; (2) was no longer favorable; (3) His lovingkindness gone; (4) His promise had failed; (5) had forgotten to be gracious; (6) and had shut up His tender mercies. forever, Ps. Cheyne also so understood this.[7]. … The big factor in this psalm is the problem of doubt. And I said, “This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the works of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. No! Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people. Of Asaph. It appears to us that the mention of "Jacob" and "Joseph" in this context is due to the fact that in the times of this psalm, the kingdom was divided, Jacob standing for the Southern Israel, and Joseph for the Northern Israel. But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High. "[12], GOD'S GUIDANCE OF ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS. For Jeduthun. 4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. Psalm 77 This psalm, according to the method of many other psalms, begins with sorrowful complaints but ends with comfortable encouragements. 77:7-8 Psalm 77:7 and 8 have four words or phrases that describe the psalmist's feeling that YHWH has permanently abandoned Israel. "Selah" appears at the end of Ps. The Anchor Bible translates this: "Mine eyes are accustomed to vigils; I pace the floor and do not recline. Finding the new version too difficult to understand? 77:7-8 Psalm 77:7 and 8 have four words or phrases that describe the psalmist's feeling that YHWH has permanently abandoned Israel. 77:1-10 Days of trouble must be days of prayer; when God seems to have withdrawn from us, we must seek him till we find him. Was it not reasonable for the psalmist to express his doubts and question God? 16 The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. Psalms 77:10 here is the turning point in the psalm.

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