RRB notes on Psalm 77

Psalms 77 KJV

To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.

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

[a] Vss. 1-13 deal with an individual; vss. 15-20 deal with the nation (See notes on Psa. 25:16, 28:7).

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

[b] A reference to the “loathsome disease” of Psa. 38:7. Both verses have been changed in the “newer,” “clearer” versions.

3. I remembered God, [c] and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. [d] Selah.

[c] God is often forgotten (Job 35:10; Rom. 1:21).

[d] Prov. 18:14.

4. Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. [e]

[e] Psa. 38:14.

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

[f] Deut. 32:7; Job 8:8; Isa. 51:1.

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

[g] Job 35:10; Psa. 33:3, 149:5.

[h] Neh. 5:7.

7. Will the Lord cast off for ever? [i] and will he be favourable no more?

[i] 1 Chron. 28:9; Jer. 33:26; 2 Sam. 7:15.

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: [j] but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.

[j] See note on vs. 2.

11. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. [k]

[k] Ezra 9:7-13; Josh. 24:4-13; Neh. 9:7-26.

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? [l]

[l] Psa. 20:5, 7; see note on Psa. 68:20.

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 [m] also were troubled.

[m] Psa. 68:22; Job 41:31-32; Psa. 104:3.

17. The clouds poured out water: [n] the skies sent out a sound: [o] thine arrows also went abroad. [p] 

[n] 2 Sam. 22:12; 1 Kings 18:45; James 5:7.

[o] Psa. 47:5, 89:15; Heb. 12:19.

[p] Hab. 3:11; Psa. 18:14.

18. The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: [q] the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. [r] 

[q] Psa. 18:13, 29:3.

[r] Rev. 6:12, 8:5.

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

[s] Job 41:31-32; Rev. 4:6, 15:2, 21:1.

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

>>>>>>>Additional Notes<<<<<<<

Note on Psalms 25:16 KJV

Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. [2]

[2] Verses 16-22 again illustrate that the doctrinal content of Psalms is aimed at Israel while the spiritual, devotional content can be applied to a Christian. Verses 16-21 are requests that any Christian can make to God spiritually, but when you hit verse 22, that is an individual Jew praying for his nation.

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Note on Psalms 28:7 KJV

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: [3] therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

[3] Notice, again, the double application where an individual's prayer for help (here) turns out to be a prayer for the nation (vs. 9).

Psalms 28:9 KJV

Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

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Note on Psa. 68:20

He that is our God [m] is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.

[m] Vss. 19-20 cf. Matt. 6:9 (see notes on 1 Chron. 29:10-11).

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