Our verse today further describes, in context, God’s Power as displayed at the Exodus, when the Israelites were set free from the bondage of Egypt.

“The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.” Psalm 77:17

Wow!

Sometimes the Psalms tell us things that we would have never known otherwise! Like the details above … at the Exodus!

Here’s what Exodus chapter 15 tells us of God’s great deliverance that day. “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed.” Exodus 15:3-13, but none of the specifics Psalm 77:17 just gave us!

And the previous Exodus chapter, the actual historical account reads: “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, and took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians. And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.” Exodus 14:21-30, again not as specific in reference to copious rainfall or lightning storms!

But Psalm 77:17 sure is … clear, abundantly so! “The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.”

Seems to me that almost every time God “appears” on earth (a “theophany” it’s called) … such phenomena occur.

As in Psalm 18:14 … “Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.”

And Psalm 144:6 … “Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.” A prayer.

David in 2nd Samuel 22:15, celebrating another victory sent from God. “And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.”

And maybe most famously, Habakkuk 3:11. “The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.”

Indeed … we serve an awesome God!

A powerful God!

A protective God … over His people!

Not bad writing (very positive) for a man (Asaph) who was so extremely discouraged earlier in our chapter, in our Psalm.

Here’s how Charles Haddon Spurgeon described God’s onslaught on the Egyptians. “Obedient to the Lord, the lower region of the atmosphere yielded its aid to overthrow the Egyptian host. The cloudy chariots of heaven hurried forward to discharge their floods. The skies sent out a sound. From the loftier aerial regions thundered the dread artillery of the Lord of Hosts. Peal on peal the skies sounded over the heads of the routed enemies, confusing their minds and adding to their horror. Thine arrows also went abroad. Lightnings flew like bolts from the bow of God. Swiftly, hither and thither, went the red tongues of flame, on helm and shield they gleamed; anon with blue bale fires revealing the innermost caverns of the hungry sea which waited to swallow up the pride of Mizraim. Behold, how all the creatures wait upon their God, and show themselves strong to overthrow his enemies.”

Yes, there was a storm!

With God right in the middle of it!

Praise His Name!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell