Today’s Bible Verse, its vocabulary, is very interesting.

The Psalmist is distraught.

Either “sick” or under “God’s Hand of discipline.” Remember, he has just said: “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.”

And now, Psalm 77:3 … “I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.”

Wow!

So far, in just three verses Asaph (the writer) has “cried” unto God (verse 1). Then he “sought” the Lord (verse 2). Now he is “remembering” God (verse 3)!

He is a God-centered man, no matter what seems to come his way!

“I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.”

The verb “remembered” is standard, “zakar,” to be “mindful” of someone.

The verb “troubled,” the relatively rare “hamah” (used only 34 times in all the Bible), means “to make noise!” Here are some of its King James Version translations: “roar, rage, mourn, be disquieted, clamour!”

Then a third verb, “complained” is found. And “siyach” means “to talk (5 times), meditate (5 times), speak (4 times), complain (2 times), pray (1 time), commune (1 time), muse (1 time), and declare (1 time). What a wide range of possibilities!

And then the Psalmist, his soul (his innermost being) became “overwhelmed.” Where “ataph” literally means “turned over.” Otherwise, “to faint, swoon, fail, be feeble, be covered over.”

What a picture of weakness, shock, astonishment!

Yet, whatever is involved here, this man keeps coming back to his God!

Let me show you the first 3 verses again, in their entirety. One can’t help but admire Asaph!

“I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.”

I’m pretty sure this ends the first stanza, the first strophe, of the Psalm. Note the “Selah” (which can means something like: “pause and think”) that concludes verse 3.

“Filter” these verses through your heart today, let your mind dwell on this kind of total reliance, trusting faith in the Lord.

Asaph, truly a little hero!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Days of “trouble” should be days of “prayer” as well!

Psalm 77:2 testifies: “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.” Written by Asaph, to be sung by the Israelites as they worshipped God!

The noun “trouble” is “tzsrah,” meaning a time of “pressure, distress,” literally a “tight, narrow place.” Squeezed from all sides!

To “seek” the Lord means “to search” so diligently that one “requires” His Presence! “Darash” is the Hebrew verb.

The Psalmist too is battling some kind of sickness. Whether from a wound or a physical issue … he is “draining” some sort of liquid. “My sore ran in the night, and ceased not.” Then again the noun “sore” is “yad” in Hebrew, elsewhere in the Bible translated “hand” (1359 times). The indication here is that the Psalmist was “crying” so much, wiping his eyes with his “hand” … that hours and hours of relentless sobbing were his experience.

And things are so bad … whatever the problem … that the man here, his soul, “refuses to be comforted!” The verb “refused” (spelled “maen”) is a Piel in Hebrew, intensive action being involved. Very emotional! “Comforted” is the word “nacham,” also translated “repented” 41 times in the Old Testament.

Whereas David once comforted himself … Asaph refuses all attempts at comfort! Self-imposed pity! (“David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” 1st Samuel 30:6)

What a terrible condition, sores and sobs!

Yet what an admirable thing to do … seeking the Lord!

“In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.”

I am so glad Psalm 77 has a 3rd verse … which we shall notice tomorrow, the Lord willing!

Yes, things do improve! For the Believer in the Lord, “For his (God’s) anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

One writer calls Psalm 77 a “transcript” of a Christian’s life experiences. The “ups” and “downs” of a Believer’s life! And verse 1 begins on the mountaintop!

“I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.”

I say verse 1, yet it follows the Psalm’s “superscript.” Where the most unusual word is the noun, proper noun, “Jeduthun.” Who is this person? “Apparently a Levite of the family of Merari and the chief of one of the three choirs of the temple. His descendants also formed one of the perpetual temple choirs. Furthermore, he is named at the beginning of three Psalms, those being Psalms 39, 62, and 77. Where he is perhaps either the composer (at times) or the recipient of those Psalms … but most likely the leader of the choir by which those Psalms were to be sung.

In fact, here’s the entire superscript itself: “To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.” The name Jeduthun  means “praise” or “praising one.”

So Psalm 77 is cataloged as such, “A Hymn of Praise.” But it does contain other elements, as we shall see. It consists of mixed genres, one might rightly claim.

Meanwhile, back to verse 1. “I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.”  This is as clear a declaration of answered prayer as ever has been written!

The verb “cried” is “tzsaaq” in Hebrew, unusual. Only found 55 times in the entire Old Testament (929 chapters), the verb means “to call for help.” But two or three times it also carries the meaning of “gathering together” a group, maybe for prayer! It can too mean “to cry out loud when in distress or need.”

That he is praying audibly is obvious, “with my voice.” The noun “kol” means “sound” or “thunder” as well as one’s own “voice.”

And then God … “gave ear!”

The verb “azan” means “listened, hearkened, perceived,” but also “responded, was obedient!” Nearly shocking!

God doing what the Psalmist has sincerely asked!

Again this reminds me of what our Lord commanded in Isaiah 45:11. “Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and CONCERNING THE WORK OF MY HANDS COMMAND YE ME.” 

Wow!

Asaph did so.

And God kept His Word!

It is an overall Bible Truth … God does hear and answer prayer.

Enjoy that privilege today … in your life … friend!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Yes, another new Psalm for us to consider. On the Website I mean. After twelve years or so of what averages a Lesson a day! This time, Psalm 77.

For several reasons.

One, because it is authored (under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit) by a man named Asaph. His name in Hebrew means “gatherer.” Or one who “assembles” or “collects” things. Here “nuggets” of Wisdom from God!

Secondly, because the 150 Psalms are so hard to catalogue, to group into families, that Asaph provides a perfect nexus for doing such. He wrote 12 of the Psalms! So a study of the “Asaphian Psalms” can always be in order!

By the way, here they are, in numerical order: Psalm 50. Then in immediate succession Psalms 73 through 83, amazing! All by this one little man. David, as another example, wrote about half the Psalms, 73 by actual count I think.

Thirdly, Asaph often “tackles” a problem in his Psalms. Some “issue” that troubled him. And we get to see how he “solved” the problem. Via spiritual reasoning.

I have previously called him the “philosopher” of the Psalter. We can actually watch him “think” in a God pleasing way!

Well, more next Lesson, the Lord willing.

But it is essential that I at least share with you the Chapter, the whole Poem. It shares some similarities (seems to me) with Habakkuk chapter 3, another great Passage of Scripture. Real Faith Builders, both!

PSALM 77

“I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. ² In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. ³ I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. ⁴ Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. ⁵ I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. ⁶ I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. ⁷ Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? ⁸ Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? ⁹ Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. ¹⁰ And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. ¹¹ I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. ¹² I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. ¹³ Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God? ¹⁴ Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. ¹⁵ Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. ¹⁶ The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. ¹⁷ The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. ¹⁸ The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. ¹⁹ Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. ²⁰ Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”

With great anticipation!

Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

What a thrilling song of praise, Psalm 66.

All 20 verses!

And I’ve just noticed something else, after having studied the Text with you for a couple of weeks! That’s the nature of the ever living Word of God, always presenting us something “fresh” and “invigorating!”

The Psalm invites various groups to join in praise to God. It is truly a “call to worship!”

For example, verse 1. “Make a joyful noise unto God, ALL YE LANDS.” Including the islands, not just the vast continents!

Then verse 4. “ALL THE EARTH shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name.” Now the globe’s inhabitants are invited!

Verse 7 as well. “He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: LET NOT THE REBELLIOUS EXALT THEMSELVES.” Anarchists, submit! Unbelievers, come, repent, obey!

Then in verses 8 and 9, the followers of this great God themselves! “O bless OUR GOD, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard: Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.” See it now, “our God.” Christians, we’d call them today, our kind of folks.

Then in verse 16, those who “fear” God. “Come and hear, ALL YE THAT FEAR GOD, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.” The “God-fearers” are generally people on the verge of trusting the Lord! Or at least that’s what they were called in Paul’s day.

Now look at the list!

All lands!

All peoples, all the earth!

Even unbelievers, rebels … still unbroken!

Children of God, too! Those who joyfully claim Him as their own!

And folks “under conviction,” we’d say today. The God fearers, wanting to know more about Him and His wonderful works.

Quite a list, five fold.

Oh yes, let me join them too!

And verse 2 is a good place to start. “Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.” Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell