Psalms 77:16 - Exposition

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 is exegetical of Psalms 77:15 . They were afraid. They shrank from the sight of God, and made a way for his people to pass over. The depths also were troubled . The very abysses trembled with fear, and moved themselves, leaving the bottom of the sea dry (see Exodus 14:29 ).