Psalms 77:16

The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. THE WATERS SAW THEE, O GOD ... THEY WERE AFRAID - (; Habakkuk 3:8)....

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 not both felt upon them the power of God. (303) It is not meant that they retired backward because of any judgment and understanding which they _possessed, _but that in receding as they did, God showed that even the inanimate elements are ready to yield obedience to him. There is here an indirect contrast, it being intended to rebuke the stupidity of men if they do not acknowledge in the redemption of th...

11-20 The remembrance of the works of God, will be a powerful remedy against distrust of his promise and goodness; for he is God, and changes not. God's way is in the sanctuary. We are sure that God is holy in all his works. God's ways are like the deep waters, which cannot be fathomed; like the way of a ship, which cannot be tracked. God brought Israel out of Egypt. This was typical of the great redemption to be wrought out in the fulness of time, both by price and power. 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...

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 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 fly, they are filled with trouble and dismay. Under the hand of such a poet, _inanimate nature_ springs into _life_; all _thinks, speaks, acts_; all is in motion, and the dismay is general....

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. 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;...

EXPOSITION THIS psalm is the lament and expostulation with God of some afflicted person, perhaps Asaph, who speaks as the mouthpiece of his countrymen, complaining of Israel's apparent desertion by God (Psalms 77:1), but thence rising into a higher strain of hope and confidence, based on a recollection of Jehovah's past mercies (Psalms 77:10). The particular occasion which called forth the psalm cannot be determined. The psalm consists of six stanzas of three verses each, to which is appended one of two verses only. The pause mark, "selah," occurs at the end of the first, the third, and the fifth stanzas. PSALMS 77:1 I cried unto God with my voice, even

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 Psalms 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 the sea, O God; they saw thy power upon the sea;'' not the Egyptians, but the sons of Jacob and Joseph; the old Syriac church understood these waters of the waters of Jordan, at the baptism of Christ, when in their way they saw the incarnate God, and felt his sacred body laid in them, by which he was made manifest to Israel; but Jerom better interprets them,

This Psalm is headed «To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun,» He was one of the great singers; there is opportunity given in the Psalms for each of the sinners to take his turn.; it does not do for any of us to be idle in reference to the praise of God. It is called, «A Psalm of Asaph.» His Psalms have usually a dark tinge about them; he was a meditative man, «a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief»; but also a man of strong faith, and of an exulting spirit. You need to do business in great waters to understand Asaph; he is one who does not wade, but he gets into «waters to swim in.» Thus he begins: Psalms 77:1. _I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me._ The use of the voice in prayer is not essential; but usually, when men grow earnest, they use the voice as well as the mind. It was because of the intensity of h

Psalms 77 The Distressed Saint and His Comfort _ 1. The distress (Psalms 77:1)_ 2. The comfort (Psalms 77:11) This Psalm shows the distress of the saint in deepest exercise of soul. He earnestly seeks the Lord and never leaves off. “my hand was stretched out in the night, and failed not” (literal translation of Psalms 77:2). He moaned and complained and his spirit was overwhelmed. Then in still greater distress he asks, “Will the Lord cast off forever?--Is His mercy come to an end forever?”--”Hath God forgotten to be gracious?” The comfort comes to him as he thinks of God's past dealings, as he remembers His work of

LXXVII. ISRAEL'S PRESENT DISTRESS AND PAST GLORY. Psalms 77:1. The present distress. PSALMS 77:1. WITH MY VOICE: _i.e._ with a loud voice. PSALMS 77:4. Past glory. PSALMS 77:4. Perhaps we should translate, Mine eyelids are held fast, _i.e._ so that they cannot close in sleep. Psalms 77:6. The first words ought to stand at the end of Psalms 77:5, The years of ancient time I call to remembrance. MY SONG: in