August 19, 2024
Feeling Overwhelmed?
Psalm 77
Hannah Spence
Big Book Idea
Thinking and feeling God's way.
Key Verse | Psalm 77:4
You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
Psalm 77
In the Day of Trouble I Seek the Lord
To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.
1
I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, and he will hear me.
2
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.
3
When I remember God, I moan;
when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah
4
You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5
I consider the days of old,
the years long ago.
6
I said,
1
77:6
Hebrew lacks I said
“Let me remember my song in the night;
let me meditate in my heart.”
Then my spirit made a diligent search:
7
“Will the Lord spurn forever,
and never again be favorable?
8
Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
Are his promises at an end for all time?
9
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah
10
Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
2
77:10
Or This is my grief: that the right hand of the Most High has changed
11
I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
12
I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
13
Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
14
You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples.
15
You with your arm redeemed your people,
the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16
When the waters saw you, O God,
when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
indeed, the deep trembled.
17
The clouds poured out water;
the skies gave forth thunder;
your arrows flashed on every side.
18
The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lighted up the world;
the earth trembled and shook.
19
Your way was through the sea,
your path through the great waters;
yet your footprints were unseen.
3
77:19
Hebrew unknown
20
You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Table of Contents
Introduction to The Psalms
Timeline
Author and Date
Individual psalms come from diverse periods of Israel’s history, but at every stage they served as the songbook of God’s people. David wrote about half of the Psalms. His role as king was more than that of a ruler. He was to represent and even embody the people, and their well-being was tied to his faithfulness. David, then, writes as a representative, and the readers must discern whether the emphasis of a psalm is more on his role as ruler or more on his role as ideal Israelite, in which he is an example for all. The historical occasions mentioned in the psalm titles help the reader see how faith applies to real-life situations.
Key Themes
The Psalter is fundamentally the hymnbook of God’s people. It takes the basic themes of OT theology and turns them into song:
- Monotheism. The one God, Maker and Ruler of all, will vindicate his goodness and justice in his own time. Everyone must know and love this God, whose purity, power, wisdom, faithfulness, and unceasing love are breathtakingly beautiful.
- Creation and fall. Though God made man with dignity and purpose, all people since the fall are beset with sins and weaknesses that only God’s grace can heal.
- Election and covenant. The one true God chose a people for himself and bound himself to them by his covenant. This covenant expressed God’s intention to save his people, and through them to bring light to the world.
- Covenant membership. In his covenant, God offers grace to his people: forgiveness of their sins, the shaping of their lives to reflect his own glory, and a part to play as light to the Gentiles. Each member of God’s people is responsible to believe God’s promises and to grow in obeying his commands. Those who do this enjoy the full benefits of God’s love and find delight in knowing him. The well-being of God’s people as a whole affects the well-being of each member. Each one shares the joys and sorrows of the others. When believers suffer, they should not seek revenge but should pray. They can be confident that God will make all things right in his own time.
- Eschatology. The story of God’s people is headed toward a glorious future, in which all kinds of people will come to know the Lord. The personal faithfulness of God’s people contributes to his ultimate purpose. The Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, will lead his people in the great task of bringing light to the Gentiles.
Types of Psalms
The Psalms can be identified according to some basic categories:
Laments, which lay a troubled situation before the Lord, asking him for help. There are community (Psalm 12) and individual (Psalm 13) laments. This category is the largest by far, including up to a third of all Psalms.
Hymns of praise, which call God’s people to admire his great attributes and deeds. Examples include Psalms 8; 93; and 145.
Hymns of thanksgiving. As with laments, there are community (Psalm 9) and individual (Psalm 30) thanksgiving psalms.
Hymns celebrating God’s law (Psalm 119).
Wisdom psalms (Psalms 1; 37), which reflect themes from the Wisdom Books (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon).
Songs of confidence, which enable worshipers to deepen their trust in God amid difficult circumstances (Psalm 23).
Royal psalms, which present the Davidic monarchy as the vehicle of blessing for God’s people. Some of these are prayers (Psalm 20), some are thanksgivings (Psalm 21). All relate to the Messiah, the ultimate heir of David, either by setting a pattern (Psalms 20–21) or by portraying the king’s reign in such a way that only the Messiah can completely fulfill it (Psalms 2; 72), or by focusing on the future (Psalm 110).
Historical psalms, which take lessons from the history of God’s dealings with his people (Psalm 78).
Prophetic hymns, which echo the Prophets, calling people to covenant faithfulness (Psalm 81).
Structure
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
Fact: What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God?
What was the main purpose of the Psalms for the people of God? The Psalms were the songbook of the people of God when they gathered for worship.
Fact: What is a psalm of lament?
What is a psalm of lament? The main purpose of a psalm of lament is to tell the Lord about a difficult situation, to ask him for his help, and to praise him for helping. Some laments are community, congregational psalms. Others are individual, personal laments. One third of all the Psalms are psalms of lament.
Fact: What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel?
What defined someone as an “enemy” of the people of Israel? The “enemies” mentioned in the Psalms (e.g., 18:17) were people hostile to the faith of God’s people. Sometimes they expressed their hatred by physically attacking the people of Israel, while other times they merely rejoiced when Israel faced misfortunes.
Fact: Selah
What does Selah mean? Although the word Selah is found 39 times in the book of Psalms, its exact meaning is uncertain. Most scholars believe it is a musical term or a term to be used by a worship leader, possibly to mark a pause.
Fact: Snares
Snares (38:12) were traps used to catch birds and animals. Some snares used ropes or nets that would be triggered as soon as the bait was touched. Pits disguised with sticks and leaves were also used as snares. In the Psalms, snares serve as symbols of danger or death at the hands of the wicked.
Fact: A helpful guide
A helpful guide. The writers of the Psalms understood the importance of constant communication with God. They knew that God would hear their prayers, and they trusted him to act on their behalf. Believers today can benefit greatly by patterning their prayers after specific psalms.
Structure of Psalms
The standard Hebrew text divides the Psalms into five “books,” perhaps in imitation of the five books of the Pentateuch.
| Book 1 | Psalms 1–41 | Psalms 1–2 provide an introduction to the Psalms as a whole. Except for Psalms 10 and 33, the remaining psalms of Book 1 are psalms of David. Most of them are prayers of distress. Others are statements of confidence in the God who alone can save (e.g., 9; 11; 16; 18), striking the note that concludes the book (40–41). Reflections on ethics and worship are found in Psalms 1; 14–15; 19; 24; and 26. |
| Book 2 | Psalms 42–72 | Book 2 introduces the first group of psalms by the “sons of Korah” (42; 44–49; 50). There are also more psalms of David (51–65; 68–69), including most of the “historical” psalms (51–52; 54; 56–57; 59–60; 63). Once again, lament and distress dominate these prayers, which now also include a communal voice (e.g., 44; compare 67; 68). The lone psalm attributed to Solomon concludes Book 2 with a look at God’s ideal for Israel’s kings—ultimately pointing to Christ as the final great King of God’s people. |
| Book 3 | Psalms 73–89 | The tone darkens further in Book 3. The opening Psalm 73 starkly questions the justice of God before seeing light in God’s presence. That light has almost escaped the psalmist in Psalm 88, the bleakest of all psalms. Book 2 ended with the high point of royal aspirations; Book 3 concludes in Psalm 89 with these expectations badly threatened. Sharp rays of hope occasionally pierce the darkness (e.g., 75; 85; 87). The brief third book contains most of the psalms of Asaph (73–83), as well as another set of Korah psalms (84–85; 87–88). |
| Book 4 | Psalms 90–106 | Psalm 90 opens the fourth book of the psalms. It may be seen as the first response to the problems raised by Book 3. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, reminds the worshiper that God was active on Israel’s behalf long before David. This theme is taken up in Psalms 103–106, which summarize God’s dealings with his people before any kings reigned. In between there is a group of psalms (93–100) characterized by the refrain “The LORD reigns.” This truth refutes the doubts of Psalm 89. |
| Book 5 | Psalms 107–150 | The structure of Book 5 reflects the closing petition of Book 4 in 106:47. It declares that God does answer prayer (107) and concludes with five Hallelujah psalms (146–150). In between there are several psalms affirming the validity of the promises to David (110; 132; 144), two collections of Davidic psalms (108–110; 138–145); the longest psalm, celebrating the value of God’s law (119); and 15 psalms of ascent for use by pilgrims to Jerusalem (120–134). |
OT Testimony that All Are under Sin (3:9)
| Romans 3 | OT Reference |
|---|---|
| Sinful Condition | |
| v. 10, none is righteous | Ps. 14:3/53:3; Eccles. 7:20 |
| v. 11a, no one understands | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 11b, no one seeks for God | Ps. 14:2/53:2 |
| v. 12, all have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one | Ps. 14:3/53:3 |
| Sinful Speech (note progression from throat to tongue to lips) | |
| v. 13a, b, their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive | Ps. 5:10, Septuagint (English, 5:9) |
| v. 13c, the venom of asps is under their lips | Ps. 140:3 |
| v. 14, their mouth is full of curses and bitterness | Ps. 10:7 |
| Sinful Action | |
| v. 15, their feet are swift to shed blood | Prov. 1:16/Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 16, in their paths are ruin and misery | Isa. 59:7 |
| v. 17, and the way of peace they have not known | Isa. 59:8 |
| Summary Statement | |
| v. 18, there is no fear of God before their eyes | Ps. 36:1 |
Ps. 77:1–3 This section describes earnest prayer coming from a troubled heart. My hand is stretched out (to God) in a common posture of prayer (see 88:9; Job 11:13; 1 Tim. 2:8). The psalmist prays in private moments (in the night; see Ps. 77:4) as well as in public worship.
Ps. 77:4–9 The agonizing question that keeps the singer awake at night (vv. 4–6) is whether God will spurn his people forever (vv. 7–9).
Ps. 77:7–9 It does not offend God when his troubled people raise these questions. The answer is found in Ex. 34:6, which describes the enduring goodness of God toward his people. If God abounds in steadfast love, then it cannot cease. The key matter is the last line: has he done this in anger? God’s anger is a response to his people’s unfaithfulness, and will remain only if they refuse to repent.
Psalm Ps. 77. This is a community lament. By referring to God’s “anger” (v. 9) the psalm acknowledges that the reason for the trouble may be some fault in the people (see Psalms 74; 79; 80). The repeated key words here are “remember” and “meditate” (77:3, 6, 11–12). The psalm moves from remembering and meditating on God (as the one who has made promises to his people), to remembering and meditating on how things once were better, to remembering and meditating on God’s mighty deeds of old that build confidence for his people’s future.
Ps. 77:10–20 I will appeal . . . to the years of the right hand of the Most High. This section focuses on God’s great deeds of the past, especially in the exodus and in the wilderness. If God did these things for his people before (deeds, wonders, work, and mighty deeds, vv. 11–12) to make known his might among the peoples (v. 14), he certainly has the power to do them again. This song helps God’s people to refresh their hope and renew their commitment to being a holy people. They are to be an attractive advertisement of the true God to the rest of the world.
S3:162 Psalm 77
Listen NowDive Deeper | Psalm 77
Have you ever been so grieved, frustrated, hurt, or perplexed by circumstances in life that you were unable to sleep or even put words to what you were feeling? There have been times in my life when I have felt this way and turned to the Psalms to try to reconcile my thoughts and emotions with what I know to be true about God.
Psalm 77 is a lament that shows us how to process our thoughts and feelings in light of who God is. Lamenting is the process of turning to God in prayer, laying out your complaint with raw, unfiltered, honest emotion, asking boldly and choosing to trust God's character even when circumstances seem contradictory.
All throughout Scripture we see the Lord calling us to Him, asking us to bring all of our thoughts, feelings, desires, and burdens to Him because He is a loving Father who cares deeply (1 Peter 5:6-7). Like the Psalmist, our faith isn't based on receiving from God exactly what we want when we want it, but it is rooted in the character of a loving Father who is faithful to all generations and cannot change (James 1:17).
The psalm ends by exemplifying God as a Shepherd who tends to his flock. Psalm 23 is a clear depiction of God's tender loving care that leads, gives rest, restores, is with His people, comforts, and is full of goodness and mercy toward His people. My encouragement to you is to be vulnerable and authentic with your feelings before the Lord, let trusted believers into your wrestling, reflect on God's past faithfulness, and let that spur you on to hope in His present and future faithfulness to you despite your circumstances. In summary, don't let circumstances dictate your view of God. Trust His character and entrust yourself to Him (1 Peter 4:19), for He is the Creator and Good Shepherd who pursues and delights in you.
This month's memory verse
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
– Joshua 1:9
Discussion Questions
1. Who is God to you? Is He a God worth trusting, even if He seems to you to be "late"?
2. What do you need to bring before the Lord and be honest with Him about?
3. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. . . . He restores my soul." (Psalm 23:1, 3a) When reading this psalm do you truly believe that Lord cares, provides, and will restore? Do you believe deep down that the Lord is working and His timing is perfect? If not, what is keeping you from believing this truth?
4. Are there times in your life when you looked back and didn't understand God's plan, but now you can see His faithfulness? How does His past faithfulness encourage your decisions today and in the future?
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