Psalms 77:1 «To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. » I cried unto God with my voice, [even] unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. _A Psalm of Asaph_] Or, for Asaph; David's melancholy psalm some call it, made by him when he was in grievous affliction and desertion. Out of... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 2. _In the day of my trouble_] The time of affliction is the time of supplication, Psalms 50:15 . _ My sore ran in the night_] Heb. My hand was poured out; that is, stretched... [ Continue Reading ]
I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Ver. 3. _I remembered God, and was troubled_] _Tumultuabar, fluctuando perstrepebam; _ for God seemed to be angry, and to cast out my prayers; this made me mourn, and little less than murmur. _ My spirit was ov... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. Ver. 4. _Thou holdest mine eyes waking_] Thou holdest the watches of mine eyes, that is, mine eyebrows, saith the Chaldee, so that I can neither sleep nor speak. Job complaineth of the like misery, Job 7:8 See Psalms 38:10 _ That... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times._ Ver. 5. _I have considered the days of old_] What thou didst for Adam, Abraham, Israel, in Egypt, &c., all which was written purposely, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. See Deuteronomy 32:7 .... [ Continue Reading ]
I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Ver. 6. _I call to remembrance my song in the night_] _i.e._ My former feelings and experiments, being glad, in this scarcity of comfort, to live upon the old store, as bees do in winter.... [ Continue Reading ]
Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Ver. 7. _Will the Lord cast off for ever?_] No, nor at all, though the extremity and length of the psalmist's grief put him upon these sad interrogatories, with some diffidence, touching the nature and promise of God. _ Will he be... [ Continue Reading ]
Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth [his] promise fail for evermore? Ver. 8. _Is his mercy clean gone for ever?_] They that go down into the pit (of despair) cannot hope for God's truth, Isaiah 38:18, but so doth not any saint in his deepest desertions. _ Doth his promise fail for evermore?_] H... [ Continue Reading ]
Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. Ver. 9. _Hath God forgotten to be gracious?_] So it seemeth sometimes to those that are long afflicted and short-spirited; but what saith the prophet? Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not hav... [ Continue Reading ]
And I said, This [is] my infirmity: [but I will remember] the years of the right hand of the most High. Ver. 10. _And I said, This is my infirmity_] My frailty and folly. Here he begins to recollect, and recall himself, as every good soul will, after its extravagancies and outbursts. Vatablus rende... [ Continue Reading ]
I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. Ver. 11. _I will remember the works, &c._] Remember, and commemorate, as the Hebrew (by a double reading) importeth. _ I will remember thy wonders_] God is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working, Isaiah 28:29,... [ Continue Reading ]
I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Ver. 12. _I will meditate also of all thy works, and talk, &c._] _See Trapp on "_ Psa 45:1 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy way, O God, [is] in the sanctuary: who [is so] great a God as [our] God? Ver. 13. _Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary_] There it is only that I can get satisfaction about thy proceedings, Psalms 73:17. There I am taught, that thou art righteous in all thy ways, and holy in all thy works, Psalm... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou [art] the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. Ver. 14. _Thou art the God that doest wonders_] In the daily defence and government of thy Church. Thou art the great _Thaumaturgus,_ or wonder worker. _ Thou hast declared thy strength among the people_] As a... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou hast with [thine] arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. Ver. 15. _Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people_] viz. Out of the bondage of Egypt, that memorable mercy; but nothing to that of ours and theirs from sin's thraldom. _ The sons of Jacob and Joseph_] Joseph... [ Continue Reading ]
The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. Ver. 16. The waters saw thee, O God … they were afraid] This is check to such as will not see to fear so mighty a God. "Lord," saith the prophet, "when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see; but the... [ Continue Reading ]
The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. Ver. 17. _The clouds poured out water, the skies, &c._] Calvin taketh this to be a description of that hideous tempest, Exodus 9:18,26, the seventh plague of Egypt. But others with more probability hold, that th... [ Continue Reading ]
The voice of thy thunder [was] in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. Ver. 18. _The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven_] Heb. in the sphere or round orb of the air. Of the thunder in the air, see Job 37:2-5 Psa 29:1-11 This made the Egyptians say, Let u... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy way [is] in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. Ver. 19. _Thy way is in the sea, &c._] A way of thine own miraculous making. God usually goeth a way by himself. _ And thy footsteps are not known_] Not so much as is the way or an eagle in the air, the way... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Ver. 20. _Thou leddest thy people like a flock_] And so he still leadeth his Church with much love and care, by good magistrates and ministers, who are as his under-shepherds.... [ Continue Reading ]