Psalm 77

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:18

The voice of thy thunder was in the heavens; rather, in the whirlwind (Kay, Cheyne, Revised Version). A storm of wind usually accompanies thunder and lightning. This the author, with poetical exaggeration, heightens into a "whirlwind" (comp. Psalms 83:13 ; Isaiah 17:13 ). The lightnings lightened the world. More hyperbole. Not only did they "go abroad" ( Psalms 77:17 ), darting hither and thither, but their intense brightness illuminated the whole earth. The earth trembled and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:19

Thy way is in the sea; rather, was in the sea. Thou wentest, i.e; in person before thy people in their passage across the dry bed of the Red Sea; truly there, though invisible (comp. Exodus 15:13 ; Psalms 78:52 , Psalms 78:53 ; Psalms 106:9 ; Isaiah 63:13 ). And thy path in the great waters; literally, thy paths. So the Revised Version. And thy footsteps are not known; rather, were not . No one perceived thy presence, much less discerned thy footsteps. As in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:19

The profound mystery which surrounds all thoughts of God. "Thy way is in the sea," etc. A new word has been added of late to the English language—a brace of new words, as dismal in meaning, as uncouth in sound—"agnostic," "agnosticism." The fact is not new ( 1 Corinthians 1:21 ). An agnostic is one who believes it impossible to know that one central, supreme, primary truth, apart from which all knowledge is vanity. Nature, science, conscience, love, like sides of an immense pyramid,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:19

The mysteries of Providence. "We know not, Israel knew not, by what precise means their deliverance from the hosts of Pharaoh was wrought; we know not by what precise track through the gulf the passage was effected. We know not, and we need not know; the obscurity, the mystery here, as elsewhere, was part of the lesson All that we see distinctly is that through this dark and terrible night, with the enemy pressing close behind, and the driving sea on either side, he led his people like... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:19

God's unknown ways. "Thy footsteps were not known;" that is, they were not known or understood beforehand. They were not, they could not have been, anticipated. It is said that "the unexpected is the thing that happens." And so it is in connection with the ways of God. Man can but seldom find out the Almighty intent. God's "ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts than our thoughts." The life of a godly man is full of the "surprises of grace;" and so he is taught lessons of trust.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:20

Thou leddest thy people like a flock (comp. Isaiah 63:11 ; Psalms 78:52 ). By the hand of Moses and Aaron. God was the true Leader. Moses and Aaron were but his instruments. Moses at one time refused to lead any more, unless God would pledge himself to go up with him (see Exodus 33:12-16 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:20

God the Shepherd of his people. "Thou leddest thy people like a flock." Vaihinger gives a keynote in his sentence, "The minstrel lets his harp drop, and reclines in fulness of faith on God's love." In the psalm depressing circumstances awaken depressing thoughts; they even make the psalmist think hard things about God. He found relief in turning his thoughts away from himself and his own condition, and dwelling on the larger theme of God's ways of dealing with his people through all... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 77

For the meaning of the title to this psalm, see the notes at the title to Psalms 39:1-13. It purports, like the preceding ones, to be a psalm of Asaph. See the notes in the title to Psalms 73:0. Nothing is known, or can now be ascertained, of the occasion on which the psalm was composed. It is not absolutely certain whether it refers to some public calamity, and is designed to express the feelings of a pious Hebrew, as of the psalmist himself (Rosenmuller), or some other Jew (DeWette), in view... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 77:1

I cried unto God with my voice - That is, he cried or prayed audibly. It was not mere mental prayer. See the notes at Psalms 3:4.Even unto God with my voice - The repetition here is emphatic. The idea is that it was an earnest or fervent cry. Compare the notes at 2 Corinthians 12:8.And he gave ear unto me - See Psalms 5:1, note; Psalms 17:6, note. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 77:2

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord - Compare the notes at Psalms 50:15. This trouble may have been either mental or bodily; that is, it may have arisen from some form of disease, or it may have been that which sprang from difficulties in regard to the divine character, government, and dealings. That it “assumed” the latter form, even if it had its beginning in the former, is apparent from the following verses. Whether it was connected with any form of bodily disease must be determined... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:19

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 77

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 77:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 77:2

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