Psalms 77
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
This Psalm appears to have been occasioned by the removal of the sanctuary from Shiloh in the tribe of Ephraim to Zion in the tribe of Judah, and the coincident transfer of pre-eminence in Israel from the former to the latter tribe, as clearly evinced by David's settlement as the head of the Church and nation. Though this was the execution of God's purpose, the writer here shows that it also proceeded from the divine judgment on Ephraim, under whose leadership the people had manifested the same sinful and rebellious character which had distinguished their ancestors in Egypt. (Psa. 78:1-72) my people . . . my law--the language of a religious teacher (Psa 78:2; Lam 3:14; Rom 2:16, Rom 2:27; compare Psa 49:4). The history which follows was a "dark saying," or riddle, if left unexplained, and its right apprehension required wisdom and attention.
Open source ↗I cried unto God with my voice,.... Which is to be understood of prayer, and that vocal, and which is importunate and fervent, being made in distress; see Psa 3:4, or "my voice was unto God" (h), "and I cried"; it was directed to him, and expressed in a very loud and clamorous way: even unto God with my voice; or "my voice was unto God"; which is repeated to show that he prayed again and again, with great eagerness and earnestness, his case being a very afflicted one: and he gave ear unto me; his prayer was not without success; God is a God hearing and answering prayer, according to his promise, Psa 50:15. (h) "vox mea ad Deum", Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, "fertur", Junius & Tremellius; "erat", Cocceius.
Open source ↗The poet is resolved to pray without intermission, and he prays; fore his soul is comfortless and sorely tempted by the vast distance between the former days and the present times. According to the pointing, והאזין appears to be meant to be imperative after the form הקטיל, which occurs instead of הקטל and הקתילה, cf. Psa 94:1; Isa 43:8; Jer 17:18, and the mode of writing הקטיל, Psa 142:5, Kg2 8:6, and frequently; therefore et audi = ut audias (cf. Sa2 21:3). But such an isolated form of address is not to be tolerated; והאזין has been regarded as perf. consec. in the sense of ut audiat, although this modification of האזין into האזין in connection with the appearing of the Waw consec. cannot be supported in any other instance (Ew. ֗234, e), and Kimchi on this account tries to persuade himself to that which is impossible, viz., that והאזין in respect of sound stands for ויאזין. The preterites in Psa 77:3 express that which has commenced and which will go on. The poet labours in his present time of affliction to press forward to the Lord, who has withdrawn from him; his hand is diffused, i.e., stretched out (not: poured out, for the radical meaning of נגר, as the Syriac shows, is protrahere), in the night-time without wearying and leaving off; it is fixedly and stedfastly (אמוּנה, as it is expressed in Exo 17:12) stretched out towards heaven. His soul is comfortless, and all comfort up to the present rebounds as it were from it (cf. Gen 37:35; Jer 31:15). If he remembers God, who was once near to him, then he is compelled to groan (cf. Psa 55:18, Psa 55:3; and on the cohortative form of a Lamed He verb, cf. Ges. ֗75, 6), because He has hidden Himself from him; if he muses, in order to find Him again, then his spirit veils itself, i.e., it sinks into night and feebleness (הת…
Open source ↗We have here the lively portraiture of a good man under prevailing melancholy, fallen into and sinking in that horrible pit and that miry clay, but struggling to get out. Drooping saints, that are of a sorrowful spirit, may here as in a glass see their own faces. The conflict which the psalmist had with his griefs and fears seems to have been over when he penned this record of it; for he says (Psa 77:1), I cried unto God, and he gave ear unto me, which, while the struggle lasted, he had not the comfortable sense of, as he had afterwards; but he inserts it in the beginning of his narrative as an intimation that his trouble did not end in despair; for God heard him, and, at length, he knew that he heard him. Observe, I. His melancholy prayers. Being afflicted, he prayed (Jam 5:13), and, being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly (Psa 77:1): My voice was unto God, and I cried, even with my voice unto God. He was full of complaints, loud complaints, but he directed them to God, and turned them all into prayers, vocal prayers, very earnest and importunate. Thus he gave vent to his grief and gained some ease; and thus he took the right way in order to relief (Psa 77:2): In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. Note, Days of trouble must be days of prayer, days of inward trouble especially, when God seems to have withdrawn from us; we must seek him and seek till we find him. In the day of his trouble he did not seek for the diversion of business or recreation, to shake off his trouble that way, but he sought God, and his favour and grace. Those that are under trouble of mind must not think to drink it away, or laugh it away, but must pray it away. My hand was stretched out in the night and ceased not; so Dr. Hammond reads the following words, as speaking the incessant impo…
Open source ↗Ps 77 The psalmist laments that God has turned away from him, even though he feels innocent. He reflects on his situation (77:3, 6, 12) and finds hope (see 25:5) in remembering God’s past deeds (77:11). 77:1-3 The night provides a special opportunity for prayer and meditation (77:6, 11; see 6:6; 16:7; 17:3; 30:5; 63:6; 119:55, 62, 148).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
נָצַח (nâtsach, H5329) — properly, to glitter from afar, i.e. to be eminent (as a superintendent, especially of… יְדוּתוּן (Yᵉdûwthûwn, H3038) — Jeduthun, an Israelite מִזְמוֹר (mizmôwr, H4210) — properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes אָסָף (ʼÂçâph, H623) — Asaph, the name of three Israelites, and of the family of the first צָעַק (tsâʻaq, H6817) — to shriek; (by implication) to proclaim (an assembly) אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… קוֹל (qôwl, H6963) — a voice or sound אָזַן (ʼâzan, H238) — to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… צָרָה (tsârâh, H6869) — tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble); transitively, a female rival: דָּרַשׁ (dârash, H1875) — properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by… אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), נָגַר (nâgar, H5064) — to flow; figuratively, to stretch out; causatively, to pour out or down; figuratively, to… לַיִל (layil, H3915) — properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity פּוּג (pûwg, H6313) — to be sluggish נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… מָאֵן (mâʼên, H3985) — to refuse נָחַם (nâcham, H5162) — properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a…
Open source ↗זָכַר (zâkar, H2142) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention;… אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… הָמָה (hâmâh, H1993) — to make a loud sound (like English 'hum'); by implication, to be in great commotion or… שִׂיחַ (sîyach, H7878) — to ponder, i.e. (by implication) converse (with oneself, and hence, aloud) or… רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… עָטַף (ʻâṭaph, H5848) — to shroud, i.e. clothe (whether transitive or reflex.); hence (from the idea of darkness)… סֶלָה (çelâh, H5542) — suspension (of music), i.e. pause
Open source ↗אָחַז (ʼâchaz, H270) — to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) שְׁמֻרָה (shᵉmurâh, H8109) — something guarded, i.e. an eye-lid פָּעַם (pâʻam, H6470) — to tap, i.e. beat regularly; hence (generally) to impel or agitate דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a…
Open source ↗חָשַׁב (châshab, H2803) — properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… קֶדֶם (qedem, H6924) — the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the East) or time (antiquity);… שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or…
Open source ↗זָכַר (zâkar, H2142) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention;… נְגִינָה (nᵉgîynâh, H5058) — properly, instrumental music; by implication, a stringed instrument; by extension, a poem… לַיִל (layil, H3915) — properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity שִׂיחַ (sîyach, H7878) — to ponder, i.e. (by implication) converse (with oneself, and hence, aloud) or… לֵבָב (lêbâb, H3824) — the heart (as the most interior organ); רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… חָפַשׂ (châphas, H2664) — to seek; causatively, to conceal oneself (i.e. let be sought), or mask
Open source ↗אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) זָנַח (zânach, H2186) — reject, forsake, fail עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… יָסַף (yâçaph, H3254) — to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing) רָצָה (râtsâh, H7521) — to be pleased with; specifically, to satisfy adebt
Open source ↗חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… אָפֵס (ʼâphêç, H656) — to disappear, i.e. cease נֶצַח (netsach, H5331) — properly, a goal, i.e. the bright object at adistance travelled towards; hence… אֹמֶר (ʼômer, H562) — {something said} גָּמַר (gâmar, H1584) — to end (in the sense of completion or failure) דּוֹר (dôwr, H1755) — properly, a revolution of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling
Open source ↗אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) שָׁכַח (shâkach, H7911) — to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention חַנּוֹת (channôwth, H2589) — supplication אַף (ʼaph, H639) — properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the… קָפַץ (qâphats, H7092) — to draw together, i.e. close; by implication, to leap (by contracting the limbs);… רַחַם (racham, H7356) — compassion (in the plural); by extension, the womb (as cherishing the fetus); by… סֶלָה (çelâh, H5542) — suspension (of music), i.e. pause
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) חָלָה (châlâh, H2470) — properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence (figuratively) to be weak, sick, afflicted; or… שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) יָמִין (yâmîyn, H3225) — the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more… עֶלְיוֹן (ʻelyôwn, H5945) — an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.); as title, the Supreme
Open source ↗זָכַר (zâkar, H2142) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention;… מַעֲלָל (maʻălâl, H4611) — an act (good or bad) יָהּ (Yâhh, H3050) — Jah, the sacred name פֶּלֶא (peleʼ, H6382) — a miracle קֶדֶם (qedem, H6924) — the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the East) or time (antiquity);…
Open source ↗הָגָה (hâgâh, H1897) — to murmur (in pleasure or anger); by implication, to ponder פֹּעַל (pôʻal, H6467) — an act or work (concretely) שִׂיחַ (sîyach, H7878) — to ponder, i.e. (by implication) converse (with oneself, and hence, aloud) or… עֲלִילָה (ʻălîylâh, H5949) — an exploit (of God), or a performance (of man, often in a bad sense); by implication, an…
Open source ↗דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity)
Open source ↗אֵל (ʼêl, H410) — strength; as adjective, mighty; especially the Almighty (but used also of any deity) עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application פֶּלֶא (peleʼ, H6382) — a miracle יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… עֹז (ʻôz, H5797) — strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah
The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from where the sun rises to where it sets.
In God alone my soul finds rest; my salvation comes from Him.
I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”
This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him; He saved him from all his troubles.
From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah—six in all—under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the harp, giving thanks and praise to the LORD.
All these were under the direction of their fathers for the music of the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the direction of the king.