PSALM LXXVII _The psalmist's ardent prayer to God in the tine of distress_, 1-4. _The means he used to excite his confidence_, 5-12. _God's wonderful works in behalf of his people_, 13-20. NOTES ON PSALM LXXVII The _title_, "To the chief Musician, (or conqueror,) to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:2. _MY SORE RAN IN THE NIGHT, AND CEASED NOT_] This is a most unaccountable translation; the literal meaning of ידי נגרה _yadi niggerah_, which we translate _my sore ran_, is, _my hand was_ _stretched out_, i.e., in prayer. He continued during the whole night with his voice and hands... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:3. _MY SPIRIT WAS OVERWHELMED._] As the verb is in the _hithpael_ conjugation, the word must mean _my spirit was_ _overpowered in itself_. It purposed to involve itself in this calamity. I felt exquisitely for my poor suffering countrymen. "The generous mind is not confined at home;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:4. _THOU HOLDEST MINE EYES WAKING_] Literally, _thou keepest_ _the watches of mine eyes _- my grief is so great that I cannot sleep. _I AM SO TROUBLED THAT I CANNOT SPEAK._] This shows an _increase_ of sorrow and anguish. At _first_ he felt his misery, and _called aloud_. He receive... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:5. _I HAVE CONSIDERED THE DAYS OF OLD_] חשבתי _chishshabti, I_ _have counted up_; I have reckoned up the various dispensations of thy mercy in behalf of the distressed, marked down in the history of our fathers.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:6. _I CALL TO REMEMBRANCE MY SONG IN THE NIGHT_] I do not think that נגינתי _neginathi_ means _my song_. We know that _neginath_ signifies some _stringed_ musical instrument that was struck with a _plectrum_; but here it possibly might be applied to the _Psalm_ that was played on it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:7. _WILL THE LORD CAST OFF FOR EVER?_] Will there be no end to this captivity? Has he not said, "Turn, ye backsliders; for I am married unto you: I will heal your backsliding, and love you freely." _Will he_ then _be favourable no more_? Thus the psalmist pleads and reasons with his... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:8. _FOR EVERMORE?_] לדר ודר _ledor vador_, "to generation and generation." From race to race. Shall no mercy be shown even to the remotest generation of the children of the offenders?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:9. _HATH GOD - IN ANGER SHUT UP HIS TENDER MERCIES?_] The _tender mercies_ of God are the _source_ whence all his kindness to the children of men flows. The metaphor here is taken from a _spring_, the mouth of which is closed, so that its waters can no longer run in the same channel;... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:10. _AND I SAID, THIS_ IS _MY INFIRMITY_] The Hebrew is very obscure, and has been differently translated: ואמר חלותי היא שנות ימימן עליון _vaomar challothi hi shenoth yemin_ _elyon_; "And I said, Is this my weakness? Years the right hand of the Most High." If חלותי _challothi_ come... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:11. _I WILL REMEMBER THE WORKS OF THE LORD_] I endeavour to recollect what thou hast done in behalf of our fathers in past times; in no case hast thou cast them off, when, with humbled hearts, they sought thy mercy.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:13. _THY WAY _- IS _IN THE SANCTUARY_] See Psalms 73:17. I must go to the sanctuary now to get _comfort_, as I went before to get _instruction_. What a mercy to have the privilege of drawing near to God in his ordinances! How many doubts have been solved, fears dissipated, hearts com... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:14. _THOU - DOEST WONDERS_] Every act of God, whether in nature or grace, in creation or providence, is wondrous; surpasses all _power_ but his own; and can be comprehended only by his own _wisdom_. To the _general observer_, his _strength_ is most apparent; to the _investigator of n... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:15. _THE SONS OF JACOB AND JOSEPH._] "The sons which Jacob begat and Joseph nourished." says the _Chaldee_. The Israelites are properly called the sons of Joseph as well as of Jacob, seeing _Ephraim_ and _Manasseh_, his sons, were taken into the number of the tribes. All the latter p... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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 TROUBLE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:17. _THE CLOUDS POURED OUT WATER_] It appears from this that there was a violent _tempest_ at the time of the passage of the Red Sea. There was a violent storm of _thunder, lightning_, and _rain_. These _three_ things are distinctly marked here. 1. "The skies sent out a sound:" the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:19. _THY WAY_ IS _IN THE SEA_] Thou didst walk through the sea, thy path was through a multitude of waters. _THY FOOTSTEPS ARE NOT KNOWN._] It was evident from the _effects_ that God was there: but his _track_ could not be discovered; still he is the Infinite Spirit, without parts,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 77:20. _THOU LEDDEST THY PEOPLE LIKE A FLOCK_] This may refer to the _pillar of cloud and fire_. It went before them, and they followed it. So, in the eastern countries, the shepherd does not _drive_, but _leads_, his flock. He goes _before_ them to find them pasture, and they regularly... [ Continue Reading ]