Psalms 77

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 77

1¶ To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. I 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.

11¶ I 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The psalmist expresses deep distress and overwhelming sorrow, crying out to God and questioning His enduring mercy and faithfulness. He then resolves to remember God's mighty works and wonders from ancient times. He recalls God's powerful acts of redemption, particularly leading Israel through the Red Sea and the wilderness by Moses and Aaron.

Medium Summary

Psalm 77 begins with the psalmist's profound lament, as he cries out to God in a time of severe trouble, unable to find comfort and feeling his spirit overwhelmed. He recalls God but is troubled, questioning if the Lord has cast off His people forever or forgotten to be gracious. Amidst this spiritual struggle, he acknowledges his own infirmity and resolves to shift his focus to God's past deeds. He commits to remembering and meditating upon the Lord's wonders of old, particularly His great power displayed in redeeming the sons of Jacob and Joseph. The psalmist vividly recounts God's control over nature, where the waters feared Him, and His voice of thunder and lightnings shook the earth. He concludes by affirming God's unique greatness and His unseen path through the sea, as He led His people like a flock through Moses and Aaron.

Long Summary

Psalm 77 opens with Asaph's fervent cry to God in a period of intense personal anguish and sleepless nights. The psalmist describes his soul's refusal of comfort, his spirit overwhelmed, and his inability to speak due to his profound distress. He grapples with troubling questions, wondering if the Lord has permanently abandoned His people, if His mercy has vanished, or if His promises have failed. He specifically asks if God has forgotten to be gracious or has shut up His tender mercies in anger. A pivotal moment occurs when the psalmist identifies his despair as his own infirmity, resolving instead to recall the "years of the right hand of the most High." He then deliberately shifts his focus from his present troubles to meditating upon God's historical works and wonders. He remembers God's unique greatness, affirming that no other god is as mighty. The psalmist recounts God's powerful redemption of Israel, specifically mentioning the sons of Jacob and Joseph. He vividly describes the Red Sea parting, where the waters and depths were terrified at God's presence. The narrative continues with a depiction of divine power manifest in storms, with clouds pouring water, skies sending sound, and arrows of lightning. The voice of God's thunder, lightnings, and the trembling earth underscore His absolute sovereignty. The psalm concludes by emphasizing God's mysterious yet powerful path through the sea, where His footsteps are unknown, yet He faithfully led His people like a flock through the leadership of Moses and Aaron.

Core Concepts

  • Personal DistressThe psalmist expresses deep anguish, sleeplessness, and an overwhelming spirit, questioning God's continued favor and mercy in his time of trouble.
  • Questioning God's FaithfulnessIn his despair, the psalmist directly asks if God has forgotten to be gracious, if His mercy is gone, or if His promises have failed forever.
  • Remembrance of God's WorksThe psalmist consciously shifts from his troubled state to a deliberate act of recalling and meditating upon God's past wonders and mighty deeds.
  • Divine Power over CreationGod's power is vividly depicted through His control over natural elements, such as the waters fearing Him, clouds pouring rain, thunder, and lightning, causing the earth to tremble.
  • The Exodus as RedemptionThe psalm highlights God's redemption of Israel from Egypt, specifically mentioning His leading of the sons of Jacob and Joseph through the sea and wilderness by Moses and Aaron.
  • God's Unseen PathGod's way is described as being in the sea and great waters, with His footsteps not known, emphasizing His mysterious yet sovereign and powerful presence in leading His people.