Psalm 77 Devotional
by Pastor Lawrence Bowlin

 Psalm 77 is a classic psalm of lament in which Asaph is in trouble and crying out to God but can find no relief in his prayers.  He is indeed seeking God, but he is so distressed that he cannot even eat or sleep.  This is not so unusual in the life of a believer that we cannot relate to his concerns.  We too at times undergo trials that seem so difficult that we can barely breathe and in which we lose sight of God’s goodness because of the weakness of our faith.  The very fact that over one-third of the Psalms are either complaints or laments should tell us that this struggle is very common, thus this psalm is written to help us to look to God in our time of weakness.   

           This psalm follows a common pattern of the psalms of lament as well.  First, there is a general crying out for help (vv.1-3).  Second, the nature of the complaint or lament is given in detail (vv.4-10).  Third, the psalmist chooses to remember the works of God in the past (vv.11-20).  And then it is often followed by an explicit prayer of praise, but not always, and not in this particular psalm.  Nevertheless, this psalm ends on a positive note and naturally would lead the worshipper to praise God for his goodness and faithfulness to his people.   

           We are not told what particular trial Asaph was facing at this time.  That is very common in the psalms probably so that we might be able to apply it in a vast array of circumstances.  However, we get the impression that this was a calamity facing the entire nation of Israel, and Asaph is crying out to God on its behalf.  He so readily identifies with God’s people that when Israel suffers, he suffers.  When they mourn, he mourns.  And he is having a hard time understanding why the Lord would allow such severe suffering at that time. 

           The spiritual conflict occurs in vv.7-9 when after seeking the Lord but finding no comfort, he asks himself a series of questions that show the weakness of his faith at the time.  He says, “Will the Lord reject forever?  Will he never show his favor again?  Has his unfailing love vanished forever?  Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?  Of course, we know the answers to these questions are all NO!  But in our moments of weakness we may feel the same way and ask those same questions.

           Matthew Henry does a great job in his commentary of answering every question with Scripture in advance so that the believer can turn to these when he or she is in the midst of these dark days.   He says, “Will the Lord cast off forever? God forbid, Romans 11:1. No; the Lord will not cast off his” obedient “people, Psalm 94:14. Will he be favorable no more? Yes, he will; for though he cause grief, yet he will have compassion, Lamentations 3:32. Is his mercy clean gone forever? No; his mercy endures forever; as it is from everlasting, so it is to everlasting, Psalm 103:17. Doth his promise fail for evermore? No; it is impossible for God to lie, Hebrews 6:18. Has God forgotten to be gracious? No; he cannot deny himself, and his own name, which he has proclaimed to be gracious and merciful, Exodus 34:6. Has his anger shut up his tender mercies? No; they are new every morning, Lamentations 3:22.” 

           Verses 10 and 11 are the turning point in the psalm when the writer, even in the midst of his doubt, purposely recalls the wondrous works of God in the past, and that begins to change his outlook. Now he is resolved to remember, to consider and to meditate on the might deeds of God.  He remembers that God is great and the He is holy, showing his power in redeeming Israel out of Egypt, out of their bondage and slavery.

           Verse 16-18 describe God’s judgment upon the Egyptians, how the waters of the Red Sea writhed and were afraid when they saw the Lord coming; they divided in two.  Then after the Israelites crossed on dry ground, when the Egyptians tried to follow in the same path, a sudden tempest broke out upon their enemies with lightning and thunder, a whirlwind and earthquake; all of these are signs of God’s judgment.    

           Finally, in vv.19-20 he recalls how the Lord faithfully shepherded his people in their darkest of days, after a long oppression and in the midst of a fearful attack, the Lord himself walked through the midst of the Red Sea and led his people to safety, even though his footprints were unseen.  He faithfully led his flock in those evil days, and He will faithfully lead his flock in these evil days as well.  Amen!