(1) Overview
(BKC) Apparently, then, the nation was in distress. God had not answered their prayers, which greatly troubled the psalmist’s soul.
(NET) The psalmist recalls how he suffered through a time of doubt, but tells how he found encouragement and hope as he recalled the way in which God delivered Israel at the Red Sea.
(2) Difficult phrases
v.2c I refused to be comforted.
(Kel Ps) he refused to be comforted in the distress—he wanted a resolution, not consolation.
v.4a You held my eyelids open;
(NET) The psalmist seems to be saying that God would not bring him relief, which would have allowed him to shut his eyes and get some sleep (see v. 2).(3) Outline (you can skip this if you can understand the text)
(Kel Ps)
Outline
I. Complaint: Asaph pours out his troubled spirit to God in in the night when he cries earnestly for help but seems to have been cast off without any sign of love or compassion from God (1–9).
A. The psalmist cries out earnestly all night because he is overwhelmed in his spirit when he remembers God (1–3).
1. He expresses his faith in a prayer that God may hear him (1).
2. He prays earnestly in the night and refuses to be comforted (2).
3. He is troubled and confused when he remembers God (3).
B. The troubled psalmist searches his spirit for answers (4–6).
1. God troubles him, keeping him awake (4).
2. He recalls the days of old and is troubled (5–6).
C. The psalmist laments that God seems to have abandoned him (7–9).
1. God seems to have cast him off (7).
2. God’s loyal love seems to have come to an end (8).
3. God appears to have forgotten to be gracious and compassionate (9).
II. Comfort: Asaph finds reassurance for his faith by recalling the ways of God when he redeemed his people from the suffering and bondage of Egypt (10–20).
A. The psalmist determines to reflect on God’s incomparable deeds (10–12).
1. In the midst of his own sorrow, he will remember God (10).
2. He will meditate on God’s incomparable deeds (11–12).
B. The psalmist praises his glorious God who redeemed his people (13–15).
1. God’s way is incomparable (13).
2. God is strong and marvelous (14).
3. God redeemed his people (15).
C. The psalmist finds comfort in the great redemption at the exodus (16–20).
1. The exodus was accomplished with displays of God’s great power (16–19).
2. God led his people by Moses and Aaron (20).
Reflection:
I. Complaint: Asaph pours out his troubled spirit to God in in the night when he cries earnestly for help but seems to have been cast off without any sign of love or compassion from God (1–9).
A. The psalmist cries out earnestly all night because he is overwhelmed in his spirit when he remembers God (1–3).
1. He expresses his faith in a prayer that God may hear him (1).
2. He prays earnestly in the night and refuses to be comforted (2).
3. He is troubled and confused when he remembers God (3).
B. The troubled psalmist searches his spirit for answers (4–6).
1. God troubles him, keeping him awake (4).
2. He recalls the days of old and is troubled (5–6).
C. The psalmist laments that God seems to have abandoned him (7–9).
1. God seems to have cast him off (7).
2. God’s loyal love seems to have come to an end (8).
3. God appears to have forgotten to be gracious and compassionate (9).
II. Comfort: Asaph finds reassurance for his faith by recalling the ways of God when he redeemed his people from the suffering and bondage of Egypt (10–20).
A. The psalmist determines to reflect on God’s incomparable deeds (10–12).
1. In the midst of his own sorrow, he will remember God (10).
2. He will meditate on God’s incomparable deeds (11–12).
B. The psalmist praises his glorious God who redeemed his people (13–15).
1. God’s way is incomparable (13).
2. God is strong and marvelous (14).
3. God redeemed his people (15).
C. The psalmist finds comfort in the great redemption at the exodus (16–20).
1. The exodus was accomplished with displays of God’s great power (16–19).
2. God led his people by Moses and Aaron (20).
Reflection:
77:6 I said, “During the night I will remember the song I once sang;
I will think very carefully.”
I tried to make sense of what was happening
Focusing on v.1-6, I admire the author, for he did not understand what God was doing, but he decided to make sense out of that. Some believers chose to blame God, or leave God, but the author tried to think. Do you have anything today that you need to think about and try to make sense out of that?
I will think very carefully.”
I tried to make sense of what was happening
Focusing on v.1-6, I admire the author, for he did not understand what God was doing, but he decided to make sense out of that. Some believers chose to blame God, or leave God, but the author tried to think. Do you have anything today that you need to think about and try to make sense out of that?
77:7 I asked, “Will the Lord reject me forever?
Will he never again show me his favor?
77:8 Has his loyal love disappeared forever?
Has his promise failed forever?
77:9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has his anger stifled his compassion?”
The outline above said v.7-9 is, "The psalmist laments that God seems to have abandoned him (7–9)." I disagree because the words, "loyal," "promise," were repeated. Also, "merciful" and "compassion" are the characters of God and unchangeable. In other words, the answers to all the questions in v.7-9 are all negative.
Will he never again show me his favor?
77:8 Has his loyal love disappeared forever?
Has his promise failed forever?
77:9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has his anger stifled his compassion?”
The outline above said v.7-9 is, "The psalmist laments that God seems to have abandoned him (7–9)." I disagree because the words, "loyal," "promise," were repeated. Also, "merciful" and "compassion" are the characters of God and unchangeable. In other words, the answers to all the questions in v.7-9 are all negative.
When the author thought about all these unchangeable he regained his trust in God. The God Who promised to love in the past would not leave me alone.
77:10 Then I said, “I am sickened by the thought
that the sovereign One might become inactive.
When did you experience something like this? May this psalm will calm your heart like what the author has experienced.
that the sovereign One might become inactive.
When did you experience something like this? May this psalm will calm your heart like what the author has experienced.
Audrey
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