Just a short verse today, two simple questions, both so typical for Asaph.

“Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for evermore?” The Lord’s Mercy, His Promise too, Psalm 77:8.

Let’s notice the grammar first, the vocabulary.

The noun “mercy” used here is the Hebrew staple “hesed.” It is translated “mercy” 149 times in the Old Testament, but is also rendered as “kindness” or “lovingkindness” another 70 times!

And the verb “gone” is “aphes,” only found 5 times in the Bible, total! It means “to fail!” Or “to come to an end!” Or “to be brought to naught!”

And “for ever” (spelled “netzsach”) means “perpetually, always, constantly!”

Pretty strong language!

And I suspect all God’s prophecies here are summed up into a single head, as His “promise.” And “omer” literally means (derived from “amar”) “to speak, utter, answer.” GOD AS SILENT!

“Fail” means “to cease,” another rare word (5 times only), simply spelled “gamar.”

In the second clause “for evermore” is “dor,” for “generations.” Sort of like, “all  my life,” then some!

“Is his mercy clean gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for evermore?”

Every true Believer in God knows that Asaph here must be very discouraged!

God’s is merciful!

God is faithful, true to His Word!

And soon Asaph will be praising God once again!

But he is having doubts.

Doubts he will resolve … in communion with his Lord!

I read this quote years ago, from the lips of a noted British Preacher named Joseph Parker. “NO MAN IS REALLY AS GOOD AS THE BEST DAY HE EVER LIVED. AND NO MAN IS AS BAD AS THE WORST DAY HE EVER LIVED!”

That thought has helped me many a time.

It might help someone else today!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell