I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
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.
I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
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.
I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
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?
Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
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.
Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Context
Psalms 77 is a lament, attributed to Asaph, a worship leader during the time of David (1 Chronicles 16:5-7). The psalm opens with a cry of distress. While the specific cause of Asaph's anguish remains unstated, it seems to reflect a personal struggle that mirrors a broader sense of national hardship. As is typical of Asaph's psalms, we see a movement from initial despair towards eventual reassurance, reflecting a journey of faith amidst uncertainty (Psalm 73:2–3, 15–18; 74:1–3, 12–13). Echoes of other psalms (Psalm 97:4; 114:3) and prophetic books (Habakkuk 3:10) resonate within its verses, linking it to a larger tapestry of Israelite faith and experience. It is suggested that this song may be set to the music of Jeduthun, a contemporary worship musician (1 Chronicles 25:1–6).
A Cry of Anguish (77:1-3)
Asaph begins by pouring out his intense and honest anguish to God. He seeks comfort in the midst of trouble, reaching out to God in prayer, confident that the Lord would hear him (77:1-2). The source of his distress is not immediately revealed, but its impact is profound, robbing him of sleep and filling him with inner turmoil. Prayer and seeking God's will, initially, only seem to amplify his misery. He groans, and his spirit is weak (77:3). This resonates with the experience of many believers who, in times of difficulty, find that their initial attempts to connect with God are met with what feels like silence. Asaph continues to pursue God in his despair. It's a raw and relatable depiction of the struggle to reconcile faith with suffering.
Wrestling with God's Silence (77:4-9)
While waiting on God to answer, Asaph searches his own spirit for comfort. Kept awake at night by God (77:4), he contemplates past times when he had experienced God’s deliverance and sang in the night (77:5-6). He then ponders the fact that he had no current reason for praise, given the nation’s circumstances (77:6). Asaph reflects on past experiences of God's faithfulness, recalling moments of deliverance and songs of praise. He then questions if God has rejected him and his people by removing from them his faithful love, covenantal promises, and graciousness (77:7-9). God’s anger seemed to have replaced his compassion (77:9). He wonders if God's favor has permanently departed, replaced by anger rather than compassion. This questioning, though painful, is an integral part of Asaph's journey. It's a testament to the honesty and vulnerability that characterize authentic faith.
Remembering God's Mighty Acts (77:10-20)
Asaph's turning point comes as he shifts his focus from his present distress to the remembrance of God's mighty acts in the past. For comfort and assurance, Asaph turns to recalling and meditating on the holy God’s deliverances in the past. Truly, there is no one like him (77:13). God is in a class by himself. He worked wonders and redeemed Israel with power (77:14-15). This is the essence of biblical "faith:" trust based in knowledge, which leads us to obey even when the future is uncertain. He recalls the Exodus, when God dramatically intervened to liberate Israel from slavery in Egypt. Creation itself trembled when God acted for his people (77:16). When he rescued Israel from Egypt, he made a way . . . through the sea and further demonstrated his power with storm clouds . . . thunder . . . lightning (77:17-19). God used Moses and Aaron as instruments to lead and deliver his people like a flock of sheep (77:20). He remembers how God parted the Red Sea, led His people through the wilderness, and demonstrated His power through storms and natural phenomena. These acts serve as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering commitment to His people and His ability to overcome any obstacle.
A Foundation for Hope
By recalling this great redemption of Israel by God’s hand, Asaph encourages himself that God would again come to the aid of his people. His delayed response does not mean abandonment. Asaph's meditation on God's past faithfulness becomes the foundation for renewed hope in the present. It's a powerful illustration of how remembering God's past actions can fuel our faith in the midst of present trials. Asaph's psalm reminds us that even when God seems silent, His past faithfulness serves as a testament to His unwavering love and power. His footprints of grace from yesterday give us the power to trust him today. When God delays in answering our prayers, we need to remember how he cared for us in other times of distress.
I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
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.
I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
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.
I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
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?
Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
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.
Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Context
Psalms 77 is a lament, attributed to Asaph, a worship leader during the time of David (1 Chronicles 16:5-7). The psalm opens with a cry of distress. While the specific cause of Asaph's anguish remains unstated, it seems to reflect a personal struggle that mirrors a broader sense of national hardship. As is typical of Asaph's psalms, we see a movement from initial despair towards eventual reassurance, reflecting a journey of faith amidst uncertainty (Psalm 73:2–3, 15–18; 74:1–3, 12–13). Echoes of other psalms (Psalm 97:4; 114:3) and prophetic books (Habakkuk 3:10) resonate within its verses, linking it to a larger tapestry of Israelite faith and experience. It is suggested that this song may be set to the music of Jeduthun, a contemporary worship musician (1 Chronicles 25:1–6).
A Cry of Anguish (77:1-3)
Asaph begins by pouring out his intense and honest anguish to God. He seeks comfort in the midst of trouble, reaching out to God in prayer, confident that the Lord would hear him (77:1-2). The source of his distress is not immediately revealed, but its impact is profound, robbing him of sleep and filling him with inner turmoil. Prayer and seeking God's will, initially, only seem to amplify his misery. He groans, and his spirit is weak (77:3). This resonates with the experience of many believers who, in times of difficulty, find that their initial attempts to connect with God are met with what feels like silence. Asaph continues to pursue God in his despair. It's a raw and relatable depiction of the struggle to reconcile faith with suffering.
Wrestling with God's Silence (77:4-9)
While waiting on God to answer, Asaph searches his own spirit for comfort. Kept awake at night by God (77:4), he contemplates past times when he had experienced God’s deliverance and sang in the night (77:5-6). He then ponders the fact that he had no current reason for praise, given the nation’s circumstances (77:6). Asaph reflects on past experiences of God's faithfulness, recalling moments of deliverance and songs of praise. He then questions if God has rejected him and his people by removing from them his faithful love, covenantal promises, and graciousness (77:7-9). God’s anger seemed to have replaced his compassion (77:9). He wonders if God's favor has permanently departed, replaced by anger rather than compassion. This questioning, though painful, is an integral part of Asaph's journey. It's a testament to the honesty and vulnerability that characterize authentic faith.
Remembering God's Mighty Acts (77:10-20)
Asaph's turning point comes as he shifts his focus from his present distress to the remembrance of God's mighty acts in the past. For comfort and assurance, Asaph turns to recalling and meditating on the holy God’s deliverances in the past. Truly, there is no one like him (77:13). God is in a class by himself. He worked wonders and redeemed Israel with power (77:14-15). This is the essence of biblical "faith:" trust based in knowledge, which leads us to obey even when the future is uncertain. He recalls the Exodus, when God dramatically intervened to liberate Israel from slavery in Egypt. Creation itself trembled when God acted for his people (77:16). When he rescued Israel from Egypt, he made a way . . . through the sea and further demonstrated his power with storm clouds . . . thunder . . . lightning (77:17-19). God used Moses and Aaron as instruments to lead and deliver his people like a flock of sheep (77:20). He remembers how God parted the Red Sea, led His people through the wilderness, and demonstrated His power through storms and natural phenomena. These acts serve as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering commitment to His people and His ability to overcome any obstacle.
A Foundation for Hope
By recalling this great redemption of Israel by God’s hand, Asaph encourages himself that God would again come to the aid of his people. His delayed response does not mean abandonment. Asaph's meditation on God's past faithfulness becomes the foundation for renewed hope in the present. It's a powerful illustration of how remembering God's past actions can fuel our faith in the midst of present trials. Asaph's psalm reminds us that even when God seems silent, His past faithfulness serves as a testament to His unwavering love and power. His footprints of grace from yesterday give us the power to trust him today. When God delays in answering our prayers, we need to remember how he cared for us in other times of distress.