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Christianity

Psalms 77Remembering the Days of Old

Summary

Psalm 77, attributed to Asaph and linked in its heading with Jeduthun, begins with a sleepless night of distress in which the speaker asks whether God has cast off forever and forgotten to be gracious. The turn comes when he resolves to remember the works of the LORD and the wonders of old. The psalm closes with a vivid picture of the sea crossing, waters trembling and thunder sounding, as God led his people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Key verse

“Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.”

Psalms 77:19

Themes

  • Sleepless Doubt
  • Memory as Comfort
  • God of Wonders
  • The Sea Crossing

Text

1

I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.

2

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

3

I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

4

Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

5

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

6

I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.

7

Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?

8

Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?

9

Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.

10

And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.

11

I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

12

I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.

13

Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?

14

Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.

15

Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

16

The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.

17

The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.

18

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

19

Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.

20

Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

  • Christianity

    Exodus 14: Crossing the Sea

    Exodus 14 narrates Israel crossing the sea on dry ground. Psalm 77:16 to 20 retells the event as a storm in which the waters are afraid, and adds that God's footsteps through the sea left no trace.

  • Christianity

    Lamentations 3: Hope Recalled

    Lamentations 3 moves in a similar way, from feeling shut out by God to a deliberate act of recalling his compassion, which the poet says is new every morning.

Questions about Psalms 77

Who was Jeduthun in the Psalms?

Jeduthun is named in 1 Chronicles 16:41 to 42 and 25:1 as one of the Levite musicians appointed in David's time. His name appears in the headings of Psalms 39, 62 and 77, though whether it marks a person, a choir or a tune is debated.

What is the turning point of Psalm 77?

After the anguished questions of verses 7 to 9, verses 10 to 12 record a decision to remember the years of the right hand of the most High and to meditate on God's works. The rest of the psalm recalls the exodus rather than answering the questions directly.