Psalms 77
Psalms 77 is part of “Book III: The Leviticus Book” (73–89) in the outline of Psalms.
Psalms 77 summary
This psalm, according to the method of many other psalms, begins with sorrowful complaints but ends with comfortable encouragements. 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. If they were private troubles that he was groaning under, it teaches us that what God has wrought for his church in general may be improved for the comfort of particular believers; if it was some public calamity that he is here lamenting, his speaking of it so feelingly, as if it had been some particular trouble…
Read the full introduction
This psalm, according to the method of many other psalms, begins with sorrowful complaints but ends with comfortable encouragements. 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. If they were private troubles that he was groaning under, it teaches us that what God has wrought for his church in general may be improved for the comfort of particular believers; if it was some public calamity that he is here lamenting, his speaking of it so feelingly, as if it had been some particular trouble of his own, shows how much we should lay to heart the interests of the church of God and make them ours. One of the rabbin says, This psalm is spoken in the dialect of the captives; and therefore some think it was penned in the captivity in Babylon. I. The psalmist complains here of the deep impressions which his troubles made upon his spirits, and the temptation he was in to despair of relief (Psa 77:1-10). II. He encourages himself to hope that it would be well at last, by the remembrance of God's former appearances for the help of his people, of which he gives several instances (Psa 77:11-20). In singing this psalm we must take shame to ourselves for all our sinful distrusts of God, and of his providence and promise, and give to him the glory of his power and goodness by a thankful commemoration of what he has done for us formerly and a cheerful dependence on him for the future. To the chief musician, to Jeduthun. A psalm of Asaph.
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Psalms 77 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
In the Day of Trouble I Seek the Lord
1For the excellent musician Ieduthun. A Psalme committed to Asaph. My voyce came to God, when I cryed: my voyce came to God, and he heard me. 2In the day of my trouble I sought ye Lord: my sore ranne and ceased not in the night: my soule refused comfort. 3I did thinke vpon God, and was troubled: I praied, and my spirit was full of anguish. Selah. 4Thou keepest mine eyes waking: I was astonied and could not speake. 5Then I considered the daies of olde, and the yeeres of ancient time. 6I called to remembrance my song in the night: I communed with mine owne heart, and my spirit searched diligently. 7Will the Lord absent him selfe for euer? and will he shewe no more fauour? 8Is his mercie cleane gone for euer? doeth his promise faile for euermore? 9Hath God forgotten to be mercifull? hath he shut vp his teder mercies in displeasure? Selah. 10And I sayde, This is my death: yet I remembred the yeeres of the right hand of the most High. 11I remembred the workes of the Lord: certainely I remembred thy wonders of olde. 12I did also meditate all thy woorkes, and did deuise of thine actes, saying, 13Thy way, O God, is in the Sanctuarie: who is so great a God as our God! 14Thou art ye God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy power among the people. 15Thou hast redeemed thy people with thine arme, euen the sonnes of Iaakob and Ioseph. Selah. 16The waters sawe thee, O God: the waters sawe thee, and were afraide: yea, the depths trembled. 17The cloudes powred out water: the heauens gaue a sounde: yea, thine arrowes went abroade. 18The voyce of thy thunder was rounde about: the lightnings lightened the worlde: the earth trembled and shooke. 19Thy way is in the Sea, and thy paths in the great waters, and thy footesteps are not knowen. 20Thou diddest leade thy people like sheepe by the hand of Moses and Aaron.