Psalm 77

In the Day of Trouble I Seek the Lord

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

77   I cry aloud to God,
    aloud to God, and he will hear me.
  In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
    in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
    my soul refuses to be comforted.
  When I remember God, I moan;
    when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah
  You hold my eyelids open;
    I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
  I consider the days of old,
    the years long ago.
  I said, “Let me remember my song in the night;
    let me meditate in my heart.”
    Then my spirit made a diligent search:
  “Will the Lord spurn forever,
    and never again be favorable?
  Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
    Are his promises at an end for all time?
  Has God forgotten to be gracious?
    Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah
  Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
    to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
  I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
    yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
  I will ponder all your work,
    and meditate on your mighty deeds.
  Your way, O God, is holy.
    What god is great like our God?
  You are the God who works wonders;
    you have made known your might among the peoples.
  You with your arm redeemed your people,
    the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
  When the waters saw you, O God,
    when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
    indeed, the deep trembled.
  The clouds poured out water;
    the skies gave forth thunder;
    your arrows flashed on every side.
  The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
    your lightnings lighted up the world;
    the earth trembled and shook.
  Your way was through the sea,
    your path through the great waters;
    yet your footprints were unseen.
  You led your people like a flock
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

(ESV)

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Psalm 77 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

We’ve all experienced sleepless nights wondering if God can hear us. The primary issue at hand is the stark contrast between what we know about God and the reality of what we are experiencing. So, we worry. Like Asaph, we focus on the complexity of the problem with seemingly no end in sight. We struggle to understand the reality that is before us. Every moment we feel our stomach turn with emotion as we ponder how we will make it through this phase of life.

Just read the raw thoughts of Asaph wrestling with the sovereignty of God.

I spend the night in deep thought; I meditate, and this is what I ask myself: 7 “Will the Lord always reject us? Will he never again be pleased with us? 8 Has he stopped loving us? Does his promise no longer stand? 9 Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has anger taken the place of his compassion?”

Psalms 77:6-9 GNB

There is encouragement. There is hope. There is a powerful God who knows exactly how you feel. Asaph begins to remember God’s faithfulness throughout the years.

I will remember your great deeds, LORD; I will recall the wonders you did in the past. 12 I will think about all that you have done; I will meditate on all your mighty acts. 13 Everything you do, O God, is holy. No god is as great as you. 14 You are the God who works miracles; you showed your might among the nations.

Psalms 77:11-14 GNB

Is it wrong to question God? Many in the Scriptures questioned Him. The turning point for those who were faithful (and this is especially true in the Psalms) was when they reminded themselves of His faithfulness. That act alone is enough to bring supernatural peace to our hearts and minds. Remembering the faithful acts of our God becomes a potent weapon for the one who is troubled and dejected. He. Is. Faithful.

How has God been faithful to you in your life? Don’t just remember those moments – treasure them. Meditate on them. Check God’s history. He is a Mighty Deliverer who hears the cry of the broken-hearted. He is absolutely faithful to His promises.