Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary < PSALM 77
Ps 77:1-20. To Jeduthun—(See on [612]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. 1. expresses the purport of the Psalm. 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. 2. his importunacy.
my sore ran … night—literally, "my hand was spread," or, "stretched out" (compare Ps 44:20). ceased not—literally, "grew not numb," or, "feeble" (Ge 45:26; Ps 38:8). my soul … comforted—(compare Ge 37:35; Jer 31:15). I 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 (Ps 39:6; 41:5). my spirit was overwhelmed—or, "fainted" (Ps 107:5; Jon 2:7). Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 4. holdest … waking—or, "fast," that I cannot sleep. Thus he is led to express his anxious feelings in several earnest questions indicative of impatient sorrow.
I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?
Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
And 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 Ps 90:15), as of God's ordering.
I 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.
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
Thy 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 (Ps 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).
Thou 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 (Ps 22:11-14; Hab 3:14) which may have attended those miraculous events (Ex 14:24).
Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. 15. Jacob and Joseph—representing all.
The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. 19. waters … , footsteps—may refer to His actual leading the people through the sea, though also expressing the mysteries of providence.
Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. |
