[2] In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
Night — Which to others was a time of rest and quietness.
[3] I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. /*Selah*/.
Troubled — Yea, the thoughts of God were now a matter of trouble, because he was angry with me.
Overwhelmed — So far was I from finding relief.
[4] Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
Waking — By continual grief.
[5] I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
The days — The mighty works of God in former times.
[6] I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
My song — The mercies of God vouchsafed to me, and to his people, which have obliged me to sing his praises, not only in the day, but also by night.
[7] Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
Cut off — His peculiar people.
[10] And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
I said — These suspicions of God's faithfulness proceed from the weakness of my faith.
The years — The years wherein God hath done great and glorious works, which are often ascribed to God's right-hand.
[13] Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
In holiness — God is holy and just, and true in all his works.
[16] The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
Afraid — And stood still, as men astonished, do.
[17] The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
Poured — When the Israelites passed over the sea.
Arrows — Hail-stones or lightnings.
[19] Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
Not known — Because the water returned and covered them.
[20] Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Leddest — First through the sea, and afterwards through the wilderness, with singular care and tenderness, as a shepherd doth his sheep.
Psalm 77 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 2
[2] In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
Night — Which to others was a time of rest and quietness.
Verse 3
[3] I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. /*Selah*/.
Troubled — Yea, the thoughts of God were now a matter of trouble, because he was angry with me.
Overwhelmed — So far was I from finding relief.
Verse 4
[4] Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
Waking — By continual grief.
Verse 5
[5] I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
The days — The mighty works of God in former times.
Verse 6
[6] I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
My song — The mercies of God vouchsafed to me, and to his people, which have obliged me to sing his praises, not only in the day, but also by night.
Verse 7
[7] Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
Cut off — His peculiar people.
Verse 10
[10] And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.
I said — These suspicions of God's faithfulness proceed from the weakness of my faith.
The years — The years wherein God hath done great and glorious works, which are often ascribed to God's right-hand.
Verse 13
[13] Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
In holiness — God is holy and just, and true in all his works.
Verse 16
[16] The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
Afraid — And stood still, as men astonished, do.
Verse 17
[17] The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
Poured — When the Israelites passed over the sea.
Arrows — Hail-stones or lightnings.
Verse 19
[19] Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.
Not known — Because the water returned and covered them.
Verse 20
[20] Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Leddest — First through the sea, and afterwards through the wilderness, with singular care and tenderness, as a shepherd doth his sheep.