Psalm 77:1-10 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 77:1-10

We have here the lively portraiture of a good man under prevailing melancholy, fallen into and sinking in that horrible pit and that miry clay, but struggling to get out. Drooping saints, that are of a sorrowful spirit, may here as in a glass see their own faces. The conflict which the psalmist had with his griefs and fears seems to have been over when he penned this record of it; for he says (Ps. 77:1), I cried unto God, and he gave ear unto me, which, while the struggle lasted, he had not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:1

I cried unto God with my voice ,.... Which is to be understood of prayer, and that vocal, and which is importunate and fervent, being made in distress; see Psalm 3:4 , or "my voice was unto God" F8 קולי אל אלהים "vox mea ad Deum", Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, "fertur", Junius & Tremellius; "erat", Cocceius. , "and I cried"; it was directed to him, and expressed in a very loud and clamorous way: even unto God with my voice ; or "my voice was unto God"; which is repeated... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:2

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord ,.... Not the creature, for help, and creature amusements to drive away trouble, but the Lord, in private, by prayer and supplication; a time of trouble is a time for prayer, James 5:13 , all men have their trouble, but the people of God more especially; and there are some particular times in which they have more than usual, and then it may be said to be "a day of trouble" with them; which sometimes arises from themselves, the strength of their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:3

I remembered God, and was troubled ,.... Either the mercy, grace, and goodness of God, as Jarchi; how ungrateful he had been to him, how sadly he had requited him, how unthankful and unholy he was, notwithstanding so much kindness; and when he called this to mind it troubled him; or when he remembered the grace and goodness of God to him in time past, and how it was with him now, that it was not with him as then; this gave him uneasiness, and set him a praying and crying, that it might be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:4

Thou holdest mine eyes waking ,.... Or, "the watches", or rather "keepers of the eyes" F13 שמרות עיני "vigilias", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, Tigurine version; "palpebras oculorum meorum", Musculus, Cocceius; "palpebras quasi custodias oculorum", Michaelis. ; the eyebrows, which protect the eyes; these were held, so that he could not shut them, and get any sleep; so R. Moses Haccohen interprets the words, as Jarchi observes; and so the Targum, "thou holdest the brows of my... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:5

I have considered the days of old ,.... Either the former part of his life, the various occurrences of it, how it had been with him in time past, what experience he had had of the divine goodness; so the Syriac version renders it, "I have considered my days of old"; or the preceding age, and what has happened in that, which his ancestors had acquainted him with; or rather many ages past, from the days of Adam to the then present time; at least it may include the Israelites coming out of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:6

I call to remembrance my song in the night ,.... What had been an occasion of praising the Lord with a song, and which he had sung in the night seasons, when he was at leisure, his thoughts free, and he retired from company; or it now being night with him, he endeavoured to recollect what had been matter of praise and thankfulness to him, and tried to sing one of those songs now, in order to remove his melancholy thoughts and fears, but all to no purpose: I commune with mine own heart ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:7

Will the Lord cast off for ever ?.... The Syriac version of this, and the two following verses, is not by way of interrogation, but affirmation: "the Lord hath forgotten me for ever, nor will he", &c.; and so expresses the language of unbelief; but the Arabic version, in connection with the last words, with which it begins this verse, is, "and I weighed in my spirit whether the Lord", &c.; and so makes it a subject of inquiry, and at most of questioning or doubting. The Targum,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:8

Is his mercy clean gone for ever ?.... Or "his grace" F17 חסדו "gratia ipsius", Cocceius, Gejerus. ; and mercy is no other than grace to objects in misery; Unbelief says it is gone, that no more will be shown, and that the treasures of it are exhausted; but Faith says it is not gone, and observes that God is the God of all grace, is rich in mercy, and abundant in goodness; that his Son is full of grace and truth, and so is the covenant; and that though there is an abundance of it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:9

Hath God forgotten to be gracious ,.... He has not, is it possible that he should? as the Targum; it is not; he cannot forget the purposes of his grace and mercy, nor the covenant and promises of it, nor people the objects of it; and much less can he for his grace and mercy itself, so agreeable to his nature, what he delights in, and which he has proclaimed in Christ: hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? ; as an avaricious man shuts up his hand, and will not communicate... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 77:1-10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:9

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