Psalm 77:16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 77:11-20

The psalmist here recovers himself out of the great distress and plague he was in, and silences his own fears of God's casting off his people by the remembrance of the great things he had done for them formerly, which though he had in vain tried to quiet himself with (Ps. 77:5, 6) yet he tried again, and, upon this second trial, found it not in vain. It is good to persevere in the proper means for the strengthening of faith, though they do not prove effectual at first: ?I will remember, surely... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:16

The waters saw thee, O God ,.... The waters not of Jordan, but of the Red sea; these felt and perceived the power of God, in causing a strong east wind, which dried it up, and made way for the children of Israel to pass through it as on dry land: compare with this Psalm 114:3 , the waters saw thee ; which is repeated for the confirmation of it, and to excite attention to it, as well as to express the psalmist's admiration at it; the Targum is, "they saw thy majesty in the midst of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 77:16

The waters saw thee - What a fine image! He represents God approaching the Red Sea; and the waters, seeing him, took fright, and ran off before him, dividing to the right and left to let him pass. I have not found any thing more majestic than this. The depths also were troubled - Every thing appears here to have life and perception. The waters see the Almighty, do not wait his coming, but in terror flee away! The deeps, uncovered, are astonished at the circumstance; and as they cannot... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 77:16

Verse 16 16.The waters saw thee, O God! Some of the miracles in which God had displayed the power of his arm are here briefly adverted to. When it is said that the waters saw God, the language is figurative, implying that they were moved, as it were, by a secret instinct and impulse to obey the divine command in opening up a passage for the chosen people. Neither the sea nor the Jordan would have altered their nature, and by giving place have spontaneously afforded a passage to them, had they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:1-20

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:1-20

From darkness to dawn. So may this psalm be described. We have the night of weeping followed by the morning, if not of joy, yet of peace. It is a portraiture to which the experience of myriads of souls has answered and will answer. Hence, for the help of all such, the psalm has been given. We know not who the writer was, nor when, nor the special reason why, the psalm was written. We only know that it is the utterance of a heart that had been sorely troubled, but to whom light and peace... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 77:16

The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee. Professor Cheyne regards this and the three following verses as not belonging properly to this psalm, but a "fragment of another," accidentally transferred to this place. But most commentators see in the passage a most essential portion of the poem. It is the thought of the deliverance from Egypt that especially sustains and comforts the psalmist in his extreme distress. The passage is prepared for by Psalms 77:11 and Psalms 77:14 , and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 77:16

The waters saw thee ... - The waters of the Red Sea and the Jordan. There is great sublimity in this expression; in representing the waters as conscious of the presence of God, and as fleeing in consternation at his presence. Compare Revelation 20:11; Habakkuk 3:10-11.They were afraid - On the word used here - חול chûl - see Psalms 10:5, note; Psalms 55:4, note. It may mean here to tremble or quake, as in pain Deuteronomy 2:25; Joel 2:6. - Alarm, distress, anguish, came over the waters at the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 77:16-18

Psalms 77:16-18 . The waters saw thee, O God They felt the visible effects of thy powerful presence. They were afraid And stood still, as men or beasts astonished commonly do. The clouds poured out water Namely, upon the Egyptians. The skies sent out a sound In terrible thunder; thine arrows also went abroad Hail-stones, or rather, lightnings, or thunderbolts, called God’s arrows, Psalms 18:14; Psalms 144:6. The earth trembled and shook By an earthquake. This tempest is not... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 77:1-20

Psalms 77:0 Has God’s favour of old changed?Once again Asaph has a problem that is causing him much anxiety. (For his earlier problem see Psalms 73:0.) He cries to God in his distress but receives no answer (1-2). The more he thinks of God’s dealings with him, the more distressed he becomes. It seems that God not only refuses to comfort him, but even prevents him from sleeping (3-4). So as he lies awake on his bed, he thinks of God’s kindness to him in days gone by (5-6). God was gracious to... read more

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