Asaph
Psalm 77
To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.
Scripture (KJV)
1I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
2In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
3I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
4Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
6I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
7Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
8Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?
9Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
10And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
11I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
12I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
13Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
14Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.
15Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.
16The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
17The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
18The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
19Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
20Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Summary
Psalm 77 is a lament that moves from sleepless anguish to remembrance and hope. Asaph cries to God with his voice, and God gives ear. In the day of trouble he sought the Lord; his soul refused to be comforted and his spirit was overwhelmed. He asks the raw questions: "Will the Lord cast off for ever? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Hath God forgotten to be gracious?" The turning point comes in verse 10: "I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High." He resolves to remember the works of the LORD, meditate on all His work, and talk of His doings. God’s way is in the sanctuary, and He is the God who does wonders. The psalm closes with a dramatic recollection of the exodus: the waters saw God and were afraid, the clouds poured out water, the thunder and lightning shook the earth, and God led His people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
The major themes are lament, remembrance, God’s wonders, the exodus, and God as shepherd. Practically, the psalm teaches that the path through spiritual anguish is to remember God’s past deeds and to meditate on His works. The great lesson is that God’s way is in the sea and His path in the great waters, and He leads His people like a flock.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 77
I cried to God with my voice, and He gave ear to me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my soul refused to be comforted. When I ask, "Will the Lord cast off forever? Is His mercy clean gone?" remind me to remember the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the works of the LORD and His wonders of old. I will meditate on all His work and talk of His doings. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders. The waters saw You and were afraid; the earth trembled and shook. Your way is in the sea, and Your footsteps are not known. You lead Your people like a flock. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1How does Asaph’s honest questioning resonate with my own times of anguish?
- 2What does it mean to "remember the years of the right hand of the most High"?
- 3How does meditating on God’s past works transform present despair?
- 4Where do I need to see God leading me like a flock?
Related Psalms
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Read morePsalm 89
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