Psalm 77: He led His people like a flock

We do not know the occasion of this song except to say that it was a time of trouble. It isanother Psalm of Asaph, and like other songs of Asaph, is a bit melancholy. He wondersif God has completely forgotten His people. Nevertheless, he seems to comfort himself in the knowledge that God has been faithful in the past to lead His people like a flock.

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The Psalm is credited to Asaph but is dedicated to Jeduthun. You may recall thatJeduthun, together with Asaph and Heman, were the principal worship leadersunder David. Jeduthun was a notable figure in David’s kingdom of whom weknow very little. He had also six sons who prophesied on their harps. (1 Chron.25:3)

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He, along with Heman and a man named Gad, were described as “the king’sseer.” (2 Chron. 35:15) Early in the Kingdom period there was more of adistinction made between seers and prophets. We should probably think of a seeras being a type of prophet who received visual revelation from God. The Hebrew word is

chozeh

, which means someone who is gazing.

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Prophets of course also receive verbal revelation. The ordinary word for a prophetin Hebrew is a

nabi

, a word which has to do with something that drops or bubblesup. Well-known prophets who could also be referred to as seers would includemen such as Moses, Samuel, David and Ezekiel.

Psalms Bible Study Psalm 77

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The fact that Jeduthun was called “the king’s seer” undoubtedly meant that hiscounsel was sought by David to help guide him in his decision-making.

I cried to God with my voice, even to God with my voice; and he gave earunto me. (2) In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand wasstretched out in the night, and ceased not; my soul refused to be comforted.(3) I remembered God, and was troubled; I meditated, and my spirit wasoverwhelmed. Selah.

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Asaph knew the best remedy in trouble was to cry out to the Lord, and so hereaches out to the Lord strongly. He emphasizes that this was done with his voice.He does not grumble or complain about God, but turns his complaint

God.

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Some had mistranslated verse 2 in the past to speak of Asaph having a runningsore, but there is no hint of sickness in the story here. The word is literally thehand, and so there is a picture of fervent prayer in the night seasons, as thePsalmist stretches out his hands looking for the mercies of God. His soul wouldnot be comforted until God came through with an answer.

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About this verse the great Matthew Henry said,

“Days of trouble must be days of prayer; in days of inward trouble, especially when God seems to havewithdrawn from us, we must seek him, and seek till we find him. In the day of his trouble he did not seek for the diversions of business or recreation, to shakeoff his trouble that way, but he sought God, and his favour and grace. Thosethat are under trouble of mind, must not think to drink it away, or laugh it away, but pray it away.”

Much of the success or lack of it which the men and women in the Bible experienced had to do with whether they followed this rule.

Psalms Bible Study Psalm 77

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In verse 3 we see that sometimes to think of God can even be troubling, for itcauses us to question Him when we see trouble and injustice.

(4) You hold my eyes waking; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. (5) Ihave considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. (6) I call toremembrance my song in the night; I commune with my own heart, and my spirit made diligent search.

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Verse 4 may have to do with God keeping our eyelids open, as it literally meansHe holds the “watchings of our eyes.” In other words, sleep leaves him.

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In his grief he cannot speak. This is a normal psychological reaction to trauma, which ancient peoples undoubtedly observed many times.

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He thinks back upon former years, which could also mean the record of God’spast faithfulness. Many Psalms, as we have already seen, are filled withreminders – reminders even to God of how He has led His people in the past.

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In times past Asaph could also lift up a song in the night, learning how to rejoicein the midst of trouble. In our walk of faith we are often called upon to praiseGod by faith – to offer a real sacrifice of praise. To sing happily when everythingis going well is easy, but the reality and the strength of our faith and joy are tested by the command to

rejoice in the Lord always

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His spirit was making a search – was there perhaps some reason why the Lord was displeased? The Hebrew is interesting as it has to do with uncovering one’sself to make search; they would have removed outer garments or the folds of theirouter garments to work and search more effectively. Perhaps we might say we