Psalms — Chapter 77

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1I 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.

11I 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.

1I will cry unto God with my voice, Even unto God with my voice; and he will give ear unto me.

2In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: My hand was stretched out in the night, and slacked not; My soul refused to be comforted.

3I remember God, and am disquieted: I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah

4Thou holdest mine eyes watching: 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 maketh diligent search.

7Will the Lord cast off for ever? And will he be favorable no more?

8Is his lovingkindness 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.

11I will make mention of the deeds of Jehovah; For I will remember thy wonders of old.

12I will meditate also upon all thy work, And muse on thy doings.

13Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: Who is a great god like unto God?

14Thou art the God that doest wonders: Thou hast made known thy strength among the peoples.

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 trembled.

17The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound: Thine arrows also went abroad.

18The voice of thy thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lightened the world: The earth trembled and shook.

19Thy way was in the sea, And thy paths in the great waters, And thy footsteps were not known.

20Thou leddest thy people like a flock, By the hand of Moses and Aaron. Psalm 78 Maschil of Asaph.

1For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of Asaph. I will cry out to God and call for help. I will cry out to God and he will pay attention to me.

2In my time of trouble I sought the Lord. I kept my hand raised in prayer throughout the night. I refused to be comforted.

3I said, “I will remember God while I groan; I will think about him while my strength leaves me.” (Selah)

4You held my eyelids open; I was troubled and could not speak.

5I thought about the days of old, about ancient times.

6I 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.

7I asked, “Will the Lord reject me forever? Will he never again show me his favor?

8Has his loyal love disappeared forever? Has his promise failed forever?

9Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has his anger stifled his compassion?” (Selah)

10Then I said, “I am sickened by the thought that the Most High might become inactive.

11I will remember the works of the Lord. Yes, I will remember the amazing things you did long ago.

12I will think about all you have done; I will reflect upon your deeds.”

13O God, your deeds are extraordinary. What god can compare to our great God?

14You are the God who does amazing things; you have revealed your strength among the nations.

15You delivered your people by your strength— the children of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah)

16The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and trembled. Yes, the depths of the sea shook with fear.

17The clouds poured down rain; the skies thundered. Yes, your arrows flashed about.

18Your thunderous voice was heard in the wind; the lightning bolts lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.

19You walked through the sea; you passed through the surging waters, but left no footprints.

20You led your people like a flock of sheep, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

1My cry goes to God! Indeed, I cry to God for help, and for him to listen to me.

2In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn’t get tired. My soul refused to be comforted.

3I remember God, and I groan. I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah.

4You hold my eyelids open. I am so troubled that I can’t speak.

5I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.

6I remember my song in the night. I consider in my own heart; my spirit diligently inquires:

7“Will the Lord reject us forever? Will he be favorable no more?

8Has his loving kindness vanished forever? Does his promise fail for generations?

9Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he, in anger, withheld his compassion?” Selah.

10Then I thought, “I will appeal to this: the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

11I will remember Yah’s deeds; for I will remember your wonders of old.

12I will also meditate on all your work, and consider your doings.

13Your way, God, is in the sanctuary. What god is great like God?

14You are the God who does wonders. You have made your strength known among the peoples.

15You have redeemed your people with your arm, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

16The waters saw you, God. The waters saw you, and they writhed. The depths also convulsed.

17The clouds poured out water. The skies resounded with thunder. Your arrows also flashed around.

18The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind. The lightnings lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.

19Your way was through the sea; your paths through the great waters. Your footsteps were not known.

20You led your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Videos
Reflection

Summary

A lament turning to remembrance — Asaph cries in distress and wonders if God has forgotten mercy; then he remembers God's former wonders, meditating on the Exodus: 'Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary.'

Authorship & Background

Author: Multiple authors — primarily David (73 psalms attributed), plus Asaph (12), Sons of Korah (11), Solomon (2), Moses (1), Heman (1), Ethan (1), and anonymous. The Psalter was compiled over approximately 1000 years and served as Israel's hymnal and prayer book. The book is divided into five 'books' (1-41, 42-72, 73-89, 90-106, 107-150), paralleling the five books of Moses. Key themes: worship, lament, praise, trust, kingship, creation, wisdom, Messianic prophecy, and the full range of human emotion brought before God.
Classification: Individual Lament / Meditation Psalm Attributed Author: Asaph (directed to Jeduthun) Key Themes: Sleepless anguish, questioning God's faithfulness, choosing to remember God's works, the Exodus as proof of God's power, God's invisible ways
Historical Context: This psalm, directed to the musician Jeduthun, captures a profound spiritual crisis. Asaph is in deep distress — sleepless, unable to speak, and asking devastating questions: "Has God's mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed?" (vv.7-9). The psalm divides sharply at v.10 — the first half is anguish; the second half is deliberate remembrance of God's mighty deeds, particularly the Exodus. The resolution is not that Asaph gets ANSWERS to his questions but that he REMEMBERS who God is. The psalm's final verse (v.20) is remarkable: God led His people like a flock "by the hand of Moses and Aaron" — even when His footsteps were invisible (v.19). Trust without visible evidence.
Structure:
  • Cry of Anguish (vv.1-3)
  • Sleepless Distress (vv.4-6)
  • Devastating Questions (vv.7-9)
  • The Turning Point: Choosing to Remember (vv.10-12)
  • God's Way in the Sanctuary (v.13)
  • God's Power in the Exodus (vv.14-20)

Map & Geography

  • No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.

Reflection

  • 1. Honest questions are not faithless questions (vv.7-9). God put these questions in His Word. If you're asking "Has God forgotten me?" you are in good company. The key is WHERE you bring those questions — to God, not away from Him.
  • 2. Remembering is a CHOICE, not a feeling (v.10). "I WILL remember." When you can't feel God's presence, DECIDE to recall His past faithfulness. Your memory is a weapon against despair. Use it deliberately.
  • 3. God's footsteps are invisible but real (v.19). You may never see HOW God is working in your current situation. His path goes through the sea — impossible places where footprints can't remain. Trust without evidence. He was in the sea with Israel even though no one could track His steps.
  • 4. God leads even when you can't see the Leader (v.20). Moses and Aaron were visible; God was invisible. Sometimes He leads through human instruments, and you must trust that the invisible God is behind the visible leaders.