... English (46) Spanish (1) Sermon Type . Whatever the case, there is nothing improbable about these additional manifestations of God’s power on that great night of nights for Israel.” (Boice), iii. Nothing wounds and pierces like the thought of God's being angry. Let faith answer them from the Scripture. For him, the apparent gap between what he believed and what he felt was painful. Psalm 77. Psalm 78: One of two historical psalms (see also 105), this psalm traces the history of God’s mighty acts on behalf of Israel. Find Top Church Sermons, Illustrations, and Preaching Slides on Psalm 77. The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; You can also change some of your preferences. “The loving-kindness of God towards Israel did not stop at the Red Sea, but he conducted his chosen flock, by the guidance of faithful pastors, through all the perils of the wilderness, to the land of promise.” (Horne), iv. b. I have considered the days of old: Asaph considered the extent of his cry to God, considering what God had done even in ancient times. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. He put it into words: "It is my grief that the right hand of the Most High is changed," (Psalms 77:10 RSV). And thus did all these men perish, so that there was not one man left to be a messenger of this calamity to the rest of the Egyptians.” (Josephus, cited in Spurgeon), ii. He has said what is in his heart. ii. Thunder-bolts also were darted upon them; nor was there anything which used to be sent by God upon men, as indications of his wrath, which did not happen at this time; for a dark and dismal night oppressed them. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. The skies sent out a sound; Observe how he kills one question with another, as men fight fire with fire. Who is so great a God as our God? Friends spoke of God’s goodness in the present and brighter future, but the soul refused any comfort. The Story of Psalm 78. For the Musical Director. ii. A psalm. Interlude You don’t let me sleep. “Days of trouble must be days of prayer; in days of inward trouble, especially when God seems to have withdrawn from us, we must seek him, and seek till we find him. Your arrows: “Either hail-stones, or rather lightnings or thunder-bolts, which are called God’s arrows, Psalms 18:14, 144:6.” (Poole). He began by poetically describing the waters of the Red Sea as afraid of Yahweh, and ready to flee at His presence. (11-20). i. “Sorrow, like a beast of prey, devours at night; and every sad heart knows how eyelids, however wearied, refuse to close upon as wearied eyes, which gaze wide opened into the blackness and see dreadful things there. With weary eyes and a troubled heart, he sincerely sought God. The depths also trembled. He feared that never again would he see the favor of God, the mercy of God, and the fulfillment of God’s promise. i. i. We do not know who wrote the psalm. b. Those that are under trouble of mind, must not think to drink it away, or laugh it away, but pray it away.” (Henry, cited in Spurgeon). He leads His people like a flock; not overdriving, but carrying the lambs in His bosom, and gently leading those that are with young. He remembers that God is still great and powerful. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. Hemmed in by the desert on each side, the sea in front and the Egyptian army approaching behind. i. English Standard Version (ESV) Bible Book List. Chapter 77. Therefore, Spurgeon would write of this psalm: “Alas, my God, the writer of this exposition well knows what thy servant Asaph meant, for his soul is familiar with the way of grief. I am so troubled that I cannot speak. b. This is the kind of struggle with God known by those somewhat further along in their relationship with God. Has God forgotten to be gracious? My soul refused to be comforted. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary: In the first part of the psalm, Asaph explained the goodness of remembering, meditating, and speaking of God’s greatness. He had neuralgia and gout, which left him with swollen, red, painful limbs, so that he frequently could not walk or even write. The psalm reminds people of Yahweh's commandment that the … This is my anguish: We appreciate the honest anguishof Asaph in this psalm. When, unbelief is working in us, we must thus suppress its risings. Font Size. We have the night of weeping followed by the morning, if not of joy, yet of peace. Selah. Try it free for 30 days. Once we come to know that our years are of His right hand, there is light everywhere.” (G. Campbell Morgan), I cried out to God with my voice— “Memory is a fit handmaid for faith. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; i. The ancient Jewish historian Josephus did: “As soon as ever the whole Egyptian army was within it, the sea flowed to its own place, and came down with a torrent raised by storms of wind and encompassed the Egyptians. A word list at the end explains words with a *star by them. To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. Deep glens and lonely caves of soul depressions, my spirit knows full well your awful glooms!” (Spurgeon), iv. The third step is to talk of these great things with others. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. It seems more favorable to take this literally. His spirit was overwhelmed, and sank under the load. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. He treated himself homeopathically, treating like with like. The translated Bible text has yet to go through Advanced Checking. The depth and complexity of this struggle is worthy of meditation – thus, Selah is here inserted. And will He be favorable no more? b. With these questions Asaph spoke his fear that the season of dryness and frustration might last forever. c. The earth trembled and shook: Asaph described the presence of God as being so manifest at the parting of the Red Sea that the earth itself shook. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Words in boxes are from the Bible. The clouds poured out water: We are not told of a mighty thunderstorm that accompanied the parting of the Red Sea, but Asaph described the rain, thunder, and lightning (Your arrows also flashed about). Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. If we have harboured doubtful thoughts, we should, without delay, turn our minds to meditate on that God, who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, that with him, he might freely give us all things. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Has God forgotten to be gracious? I meditate within my heart, Psalm 77:19-20 Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. Perhaps this was some of what Paul felt regarding his thorn in the flesh described in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. One never excludes the other. Show content in: English Both Hebrew. “In [Middle Eastern] fashion he ‘stretched out’ his hands in prayer (Psalm 143:6) and continued to lift up his hands ‘at night’.” (VanGemeren). Psalm 77:1-20. Go to Commentary on Ps 77 . b. You led Your people like a flock b. But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.” 1-10) and a hymn (vss. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. a. 1 For the conductor on jeduthun, a song of Asaph. i. Gordon Churchyard. a. Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. ii. But let not the remembrance of the comforts we have lost, make us unthankful for those that are left. And my spirit makes diligent search. Then we should meditate on those works, and what they may have to teach us today. From Darkness To Dawn . He wondered why God seemed to answer those in the past with more satisfaction than He does in the present. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Psalm 78 EXEGESIS: INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this psalm is to encourage parents and the community at large to teach children about the wondrous works of Yahweh (vv. The sense is, “God, I know you are there – why won’t You help me the way I need to be helped?”. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. 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