Psalm 77

Psalm 77 is about comfort through remembering God’s Works. An individual’s lament (77:1–9), a psalm of national praise (77:13–20), and an exodus psalm. Psalm 77 clearly shows one important aspect of comfort: believers remembering God’s past acts of love when they are in the middle of difficult times. Asaph feels deserted by God and begins to despair, but then he remembers the mighty acts of God in the past. Thoughts about God disturbed the psalmist (77:3). How could he keep faith when God seemed to have rejected him (77:7–9)? These 3 verses are also important to understand in light of the Cross. Jesus experienced all of these questions on the Cross when He was bearing our sin and the wrath of God. But remembering God’s great deeds in the past gave him faith and encouragement for his present struggles (77:11–15). In 77:16–20 the psalmist praised God for his deliverance of Israel at the time of the Exodus. Here is the outline for how the Psalm is laid out to help better understand and appreciate the beauty of its expression.

I.    Asaph’s Sorrow (77:1–10)

    A.  Present grief (77:1–4, 7–10)

         1.   He cries out to God (77:1–3): Asaph is in deep trouble and searches for the Lord.

         2.   He is too distressed even to pray (77:4): Asaph cannot pray or sleep.

         3.   He wonders if God has abandoned him (77:7–10).

    B.  Past glory (77:5–6): Asaph painfully remembers the good old days.

II.  Asaph’s Song (77:11–20): He’s encouraged as he remembers how God helped his people in the past.

   A.  God performed miracles (77:11–18): He redeemed his people by his strength.

   B.  God led his people (77:20) : God used Moses and Aaron as their shepherds.