Bible Commentaries
Psalms 77

Verses 1-20

Psalms 77

A Count Your Blessings Psalm

This Psalm expressed the distress and sorrow of a humble man, humbled before God, invoking His special intervention to help him. From his humble position, he came to count his blessings, and to be thereby lifted from despond.

Scripture v. 1-20:

Verses 1-3 relate Asaph’s complaint when God had deserted him or given him over to chastening. Asaph’s recall of past deliverance God had given to His people only aggravated his pain of the moment. Yet, He cried to God with his voice, cried out vocally, audibly, and the Lord gave ear (heed) to him, v.1. He added "in the day of my trouble, I sought the Lord," as related Psalms 50:15; Isaiah 26:9. He reached out his hand, stretched out his hand to God in the night, without ceasing, with a soul that would not be comforted, v.2. Then v.3 adds that he "remembered God and was troubled," because, like Job, he complained against God, and his "spirit was overwhelmed, Selah." His powers of meditation simply failed him, knowing not how he should pray "as he ought," as expressed by Paul, Romans 8:26-27; Luke 18:1.

Verses 4-6 relate how, after a boisterous outcry for help, he deliberated over past deliverance of his people, he then was brought to numbness, so that his eyes were held awake, and he said, " I am so troubled that I cannot speak," he could not give his spirit vent, in words or tears, any further. He added, "I have considered (reflected on) the days of old ... the years of ancient times," as related Deuteronomy 32:7; Psalms 143:5; Isaiah 51:9.
Verse 6 relates his remembrance of his "song in the night," former hours of joy and thanksgiving, that aggravated the pain of his present comfortlessness. He then communed with his own heart, and his spirit searched it diligently, whether or not he was now in the faith-will of God, 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Verses 7, 8 relate six soul searching questions that sprang from

Asaph’s soul that sleepless night, when his prayers did not seem to avail anything, James 4:3.

1) Will the Lord cast off forever? O, no, Psalms 37:23; John 10:27-29.

2) Will he be favorable no more? O, yes, He will, Hebrews 13:5; Romans 8:28; Romans 8:32. ,

3) Is his mercy clean gone forever? O, no, La 3:22; Matthew 5:7.

4) Does his promise fail for evermore? O, no, Romans 4:21; Philippians 1:6; Jeremiah 29:10.

5) Has God forgotten to be gracious? Surely not, Isaiah 49:15; Romans 5:20; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5.

6) Has He in anger shut up (forever) His tender mercies? Certainly not, Acts 17:28; James 1:17.

God is still "merciful and gracious, longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth," to those who receive and obey Him, Exodus 34:6; Psalms 103:8; Isaiah 63:11-15. See also His mercy withheld, Isaiah 27:11; Jonah 2:4; Luke 16:25. Note sure fulfillment of promises, tho delayed, Romans 9:6; Hebrews 10:36-37. He has pledged, and will not forget, to be gracious to His own, Isaiah 49:15.

Verse 10 relates Asaph’s resolve to recognize God’s will in his moment of infirmity, his affliction hours of Divine appointment, and profit from it, as God willed it, Hebrews 12:5-12; See also Job 42:3; Psalms 31:22; Jeremiah 10:19; La 3:18-23; Daniel 9:7; Mark 9:24. Then he resolved to profit from reflection on the mighty right hand of God, that had sent judgment for sin, and blessings and deliverance, on his people in the past; and remembering such, he determined to profit by it, 1 Corinthians 10:11.

Verses 11, 12 resolve "I will remember the works of the Lord, thy wonders of old," adding, "I will meditate (digest) also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings, Psalms 1:2. Holy resolves always lead to blessings and separated service, John 7:17; James 1:22; It was true of the prodigal, Luke 15; and of Paul, Acts 9:5-21; 2 Timothy 4:7-8. Even as our Lord did, John 5:30; John 17:4.

Verse 13 witness "Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary (revealed there). Who is so great a God as our God?" Psalms 73:17. It was revealed to Hezekiah there, 2 Kings 20:5; 2 Chronicles 32:26. Isaiah had a vision of and call from Him there, and obeyed, Isaiah 6:1-10. And God promised Solomon this His eyes would always be open to and focused upon His sanctuary and His ears would listen to prayers made there, 2 Chronicles 7:12-16; Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 3:21.

Verse 14, 15 declare that the Elohim, true God is the one who repeatedly does wonders and has declared (made known) his strength "among the people," of both Israel and the heathen round about. Asaph added that this true God had redeemed his people by his arm (of strength), even the sons of Jacob and Joseph, from Egypt, and preserved them by promise, for more than 500 years, at that time, Exodus 9:16; Exodus 15:14; Exodus 6:6; Psalms 78:67; Psalms 80:1. "Selah," meaning meditate in tranquility, and think on this God, gain nourishment for the soul; depend on Him for your redemption, and He will not fail you, Proverbs 3:3-5; John 6:37.

Verses 16-18 relate how God had controlled the thunder, lightning, clouds, rain, and waters of the earth and sea for liberation and redemption security of His people. The sound of thunder and arrows (of lightning) were mandated and controlled by the Lord, still are, Exodus 14:21; Joshua 3:15-16; Habakkuk 3:9-10; Habakkuk 3:15. In majesty the waters and the wind and the sea tremble before and obey the word of the Lord. Shall man presume to do less? Psalms 83:13; Ezekiel 10:13.

Verses 19, 20 conclude that God has His way in the sea and in the great waters, as in the. Red Sea, Nahum 1:3; Habakkuk 3:15; Exodus 14:26-28; Even so, God’s ways are "past finding out," Romans 11:33. It is further concluded "Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron," Isaiah 63:11; Hosea 12:13; Micah 6:4; Acts 7:35-36.