PSALM 77. Voce mea ad Dominum. [It is uncertain on what occasion Asaph wrote this Psalm; but the contents, and especially the closing verses, suggest that it is an introduction to the following Psalm. It exhibits a present sorrow, cheered by the remembrance of God's power and goodness shown in old times, and paves the way for the glorious record of the exodus.] I WILL cry unto God with my voice even unto God will I cry with my voice, and He shall hearken unto me. 2 In the time of my trouble I sought the LORD: my sore ran, and ceased not in the night season; my soul refused comfort. 2. My sore ran; Heb. My hand was poured out". - i. e., stretched out in prayer; as when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed," Ex. 66 3 When I am in heaviness, I will think upon God when my heart is vexed, I will xvii. 11. : complain. 4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking : I am so feeble, that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old : and the years that are past. 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night I commune with mine heart, and search out my spirits. and own 7 Will the LORD absent Himself for ever and will He be no more intreated? 8 Is His mercy clean gone for ever and is His promise come utterly to an end for evermore? : 9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious: and will He shut up His loving-kindness in displeasure? 10 And I said, It is mine own infirmity but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most Highest. 11 I will remember the works of the LORD and call to mind Thy wonders of : old time. 3. Lit. I remember God, and groan; meditate, and spirit faints. my [ SELAH. ] 4. Feeble; rather, troubled, perplexed. 6. And search out; Heb. my spirit made diligent search, saying, "Will the Lord," &c. 9. [SELAH.] 10. But I will re member. These words are not in the He brew, but they express the thought intended-i.e., I will take refuge in the memory of God's loving-kindness of old. 12 I will think also of all Thy works and my talking shall be of Thy doings. 13 Thy way, O God, is holy : who is so great a God as our God? 14 Thou art the God that doeth wonders: and hast declared Thy power among the people. 15 Thou hast mightily delivered Thy people even the sons of Jacob and Joseph. 16 The waters saw Thee, O God, the waters saw Thee, and were afraid : the depths also were troubled. 17 The clouds poured out water, the air thundered and Thine arrows went abroad. 18 The voice of Thy thunder was heard round about the lightnings shone : upon the ground; the earth was moved, and shook withal. 19 Thy way is in the sea, and Thy paths in the great waters and Thy footsteps are not known. : 13. Is holy; is encompassed with holi ness. 15. Joseph is probably specified as being the father of the powerful tribes Ephraim and Manassehhimself the most illustrious of Jacob's sons. [SELAH. ] 16. This and the following verses commemorate the passage of the Red Sea. 18. Round about. The Hebrew word means anything whirling, hence a whirlwind. "Thy thunder was heard in the 20 Thou leddest Thy people like sheep whirlwind." by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Evening Prayer. PSALM 78. Attendite, popule. [The intention of this Psalm is to give an epitome of the history of Israel in a form suitable for the service of the Temple. It is ascribed to Asaph, but the apparent allusion to the Temple buildings in verse 70 causes some difficulty to the commentators, as Asaph could hardly have lived till the consecration of the Temple. The reference may be, however, only to the promise of God as to the building of the Temple by Solomon.] 19. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" Rom. ii. 33. S. Paul says of the history of Israel: "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."-1 Cor. x. 11. 1. My law. my people. "The prophet HEAR my law, O my people : incline your speaks in the name of ears unto the words of my mouth. God."-PEROWNE. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable : I will declare hard sentences of old; 3 Which we have heard and known: and such as our fathers have told us; 4 That we should not hide them from the children of the generations to come : but to shew the honour of the LORD, His mighty and wonderful works that He hath done. 5 He made a covenant with Jacob, and gave Israel a law which He commanded our forefathers to teach their children; 6 That their posterity might know it and the children which were yet unborn; 7 To the intent that when they came up they might shew their children the same; 8 That they might put their trust in God and not to forget the works of God, but to keep His commandments; : 9 And not to be as their forefathers, a faithless and stubborn generation: a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit cleaveth not stedfastly unto God; 2. Hard sentences; lit. enigmas-i.e., the lessons taught by the incidents in the history of Israel. The verse is quoted of our Lord, S. Matt. xiii. 35, with reference to His teaching by parables. 4. "I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare; which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it." -Eliphaz in Job xv. 17, 18. 8. Put their trust in God. This is the reassuring lesson of the past history. 10. Like as. These 10 Like as the children of Ephraim: who being harnessed, and carrying bows, words are not in the turned themselves back in the day of battle. 11 They kept not the covenant of God: and would not walk in His law; 12 But forgat what He had done: and the wonderful works that He had shewed for them. 13 Marvellous things did He in the sight of our forefathers, in the land of Egypt: even in the field of Zoan. Hebrew. The allu- that "Ephraim” crept other tribes was very great, as is specially noted in the events connected with Gideon and Jephthah. 13. Zoan, or Tanis, was built on the east bank of the Tanitic branch of the Nile, seven years after Hebron was built in Palestine. It was probably the residence of Pharaoh at the time of the exodus. 14 He divided the sea, and let them go through He made the waters to stand on an heap. : 15 In the day-time also He led them with a cloud and all the night through with a light of fire. : 16 He clave the hard rocks in the wilder 14. On an heap; lit. as, like, a heap. 16. The Hebrew shows that reference ness and gave them drink thereof, as it word for rock, TSUR, had been out of the great depth. is made here to the 17 He brought waters out of the stony miracle in Horeb, rock so that it gushed out like the rivers. 18 Yet for all this they sinned more against Him and provoked the most High : est in the wilderness. 19 They tempted God in their hearts: and required meat for their lust. which caused the battle with the Amalekites at Rephidim. -Ex. xvii. word for rock, SELA, 17. The Hebrew here points to the miracle at Kadesh, which was the occasion of Moses' sin. 20 They spake against God also, saying: Num. xx. 10. Shall God prepare a table in the wilderness? 21 He smote the stony rock indeed, that the water gushed out, and the streams flowed withal: but can He give bread also, or provide flesh for His people? 22 When the LORD heard this, He was wroth so the fire was kindled in Jacob, and there came up heavy displeasure against Israel; 23 Because they believed not in God: and put not their trust in His help. 24 So He commanded the clouds above: and opened the doors of heaven. 25 He rained down manna also upon them for to eat and gave them food from heaven. : 23. In His help-i.e., in His power to save. 21. Even after ex perience of the miracle, there was unbelief, so, after the two miracles of the loaves, the disciples to be concerned and imagined our Lord anxious because they had forgotten to bring bread with them. S. Matt. xvi. 7. 22. "When the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it, and His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burnt among them," Num. xi. 1. 24. So He commanded; perhaps better, yet He had, or, though He had commanded. 25. He-i.e., GOD. "Moses gave you not that bread from heaven," S. John vi. 32. Food; lit. corn. 26 So man did eat angels' food : for He sent them meat enough. 27 He caused the east-wind to blow under heaven and through His power He brought in the south-west-wind. : 28 He rained flesh upon them as thick as dust and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea. 29 He let it fall among their tents: even round about their habitation. 30 So they did eat, and were well filled; for He gave them their own desire: they were not disappointed of their lust. 31 But while the meat was yet in their mouths, the heavy wrath of God came upon them, and slew the wealthiest of them: yea, and smote down the chosen men that were in Israel. 32 But for all this they sinned yet more: and believed not His wondrous works. 33 Therefore their days did He consume in vanity and their years in trouble. 34 When He slew them, they sought Him and turned them early, and enquired after God. 35 And they remembered that God was their strength and that the high God was their redeemer. 36 Nevertheless they did but flatter Him with their mouth : and dissembled with Him in their tongue. 37 For their heart was not whole with Him: neither continued they stedfast in His covenant. 38 But He was so merciful, that He forgave their misdeeds and destroyed them not. : 39 Yea, many a time turned He His wrath away and would not suffer His whole displeasure to arise. |