Bible Commentaries
Psalms 77

Verse 1

To the chief Musician. See App-64 .

to Jeduthun. See App-65 .

Title. A Psalm. Hebrew. mizmor. App-65 .

of Asaph = for Asaph. The sixth of the twelve Asaph Psalms. App-63 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

He gave ear. Inf. = "to give ear". Therefore supply Ellipsis ( App-6 ): "He [condescended] to give ear".

Verse 2

the LORD*. One of the 134 places where the Sopherim altered Jehovah to Adonai. See App-32 .

My sore ran. Hebrew hand was outstretched: i.e. in prayer.

ceased not: i.e. to be outstretched.

My soul = I (emphatic).

Verse 3

complained = communed [with myself].

my spirit = I (emphatic). Hebrew. ruach . App-9 .

Selah. Connecting this self-introspection with its sure result misery. See App-66 .

Verse 4

eyes = eyelids; or, Thou keepest mine eyelids from closing.

Verse 6

my song. Note that the whole of this member (verses: Psalms 77:1-6 ) is occupation with self.

Verse 7

Will . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis , emphasizing the consequence of this introspection. It is continued through the whole of this member (verses: Psalms 77:7-9 ).

Verse 8

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

promise = word. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the promise given by it.

Verse 9

GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .

Selah . Connecting all this misery with the only sure remedy occupation with God: and passing from "I" and "my" to "Thou" and "Thy". ( App-66 .)

Verse 10

right hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

the MOST HIGH. Hebrew. Elyon. App-4 .

Verse 11

the works = doings.

THE LORD. Hebrew Jah. App-4 .

wonders. Hebrew work. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "wonders": i.e. wonderful ways or works.

Verse 12

work. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "works" (plural)

Verse 13

the sanctuary. Only here, in God ' s presence, is found peace and happiness.

Who . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis ( App-6 ), for emphasis. This is the cry resulting from occupation with God. Even the cry of His saints. See note on Exodus 15:11 .

Verse 14

declared = made known.

people = peoples.

Verse 15

Joseph. Because his sons were not the direct sons of Jacob.

Selah. Connecting the redemption from Egypt with the accomplishment of it as recorded in "the scriptures of truth". See App-66 .

Verse 16

The waters. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis: i.e. the waters of the Nile, and the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-31 ).

The depths. Not referring to the "abyss" of Babylonian mythology, which was a corruption of primitive truth (Genesis 1:2 ), but the Red Sea emphasized in the preceding clause.

Verse 17

clouds = the thick or dark clouds.

arrows. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for lightnings, mentioned below.

Verse 18

was in the heaven. Hebrew. galgal = rolled along.

The. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "Thy".

lightened = illumined.

Verse 19

is = was.

the sea. Not the sea-monster, the Ti'amat of Babylonian mythology, but the Red Sea mentioned above. See note on "The depths", Psalms 77:16 .

path. Hebrew text = "paths"; but some codices, with five early printed editions, as in Authorized Version.

footsteps = footprints: i.e. when the waters return to their place.

Verse 20

Moses and Aaron. Only here in this third book.