Psalms 77:19

Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. THY WAY (IS) IN THE SEA. The general inference from the particular case of the redemption of Israel at the Red Sea, as above, in . So . God's way is one open to Him alone: for He to whom is possible what is impossible to man () can make a path through even the pathless waters (; ; Isaiah 63:11, which seems to have in view this passage;...

19._Thy ways are in the sea. _The miracle which was wrought in drying up the Red Sea is here again described in different phraseology. What, properly speaking, refers to the Israelites is applied to God, under whose protection and guidance they passed dry-shod through the midst of the Red Sea. It is declared that a path had been opened up for them in a very strange and unusual manner; for the sea was not drained by the skill of man, nor was the river Jordan turned aside from its ordinary course into a different channel, but the people walked through the midst of the waters in which Pharaoh and his whole army were soon after drowned. On this account, it is said, that _the footsteps of God were not known, _for no sooner had God made the people to pass over than he caused the waters to return to their accustomed course. (305) The purpose for which this was effected is added in the 20th vers...

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 77:19. _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, limits, or passions. No object of sense....

THY WAY IS IN THE SEA - Probably the literal meaning here is, that God had shown his power and faithfulness in the sea (that is, the Red Sea), in delivering his people; it was there that his true character was seen, as possessing almighty power, and as being able to deliver his people. But this seems to have suggested, also, another idea - that the ways of God, in his providential dealings, were like walking through the sea, where no permanent track would be made, where the waves would close on the path, and where it would be impossible by any footprints to ascertain the way which he had taken. So in regard to his doings and his plans. There is nothing by which man can determine in regard to them. There are no traces by which he can follow out the divine designs - as none can follow one whose path is through the trackless waters. The subject is beyond man’s reach, and there should be no...

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

THY WAY IS IN THE SEA,.... In the sea of Suph, as the Targum, the Red sea; it was the Lord that made the way in the sea for the Israelites, and went before them, and led them through it: AND THY PATH IN THE GREAT WATERS; because the word rendered path is written with י yod, and is in the plural number, though the Masorites observe, that that letter is redundant, and so the word is singular; hence the Jews imagine there were more paths than one, even twelve, according to the number of the tribes, and which they think is intimated in Psalms 136:13, AND THY FOOTSTEPS ARE NOT KNOWN; not by the Egyptians, who assayed to follow after the people of Israel with the Lord at the head of them, nor by any since; for the waters returned and covered the place on which the Israelites went as on dry ground; so that no footsteps or traces were to be seen at all ever

This «Psalm of Asaph» has a mournful tone in it; at times the writer is in the deeps; but we may be quite sure that be will end the Psalm cheerfully because he begins it with prayer. No matter what sorrow falls to your lot, if you can pray, you will rise out of it. When Jonah went to the bottoms of the mountains, in the belly of the fish, and took to praying, it was well with him. If thou, dear troubled soul, canst but pray, thou needest not despair. Psalms 77:1. _I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me._ You see, he cried, and he cried again, and at his second call the door of mercy was opened to him. God sometimes makes petitioners wait that they may become more earnest, and that they may really feel the value of the thing they are seeking. So Asaph says, «I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice.» That is

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