Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Psalms 77

PSALM 77

Psa 77:1-20. To Jeduthun--(See on Psa 39:1, title). In a time of great affliction, when ready to despair, the Psalmist derives relief from calling to mind God's former and wonderful works of delivering power and grace.

1. expresses the purport of the Psalm.

2. his importunacy.

my sore ran ... night--literally, "my hand was spread," or, "stretched out" (compare Psa 44:20).

ceased not--literally, "grew not numb," or, "feeble" (Ge 45:26; Psa 38:8).

my soul ... comforted--(compare Ge 37:35; Jr 31:15).

3-9. His sad state contrasted with former joys.

was troubled--literally, "violently agitated," or disquieted (Psa 39:6; 41:5).

my spirit was overwhelmed--or, "fainted" (Psa 107:5; Jon 2:7).

10. Omitting the supplied words, we may read, "This is my affliction--the years of," &c., "years" being taken as parallel to affliction (compare Psa 90:15), as of God's ordering.

11-12. He finds relief in contrasting God's former deliverances. Shall we receive good at His hands, and not evil? Both are orderings of unerring mercy and unfailing love.

13. Thy way ... in the sanctuary--God's ways of grace and providence (Psa 22:3; 67:2), ordered on holy principles, as developed in His worship; or implied in His perfections, if "holiness" be used for "sanctuary," as some prefer translating (compare Ex 15:11).

14-20. Illustrations of God's power in His special interventions for His people (Ex 14:1-31), and, in the more common, but sublime, control of nature (Psa 22:11-14; Ha 3:14) which may have attended those miraculous events (Ex 14:24).