What does Psalm 77:18 mean?
ESV: The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook.
NIV: Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
NASB: The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightning lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook.
CSB: The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind; lightning lit up the world. The earth shook and quaked.
NLT: Your thunder roared from the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world! The earth trembled and shook.
KJV: The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
NKJV: The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook.
Verse Commentary:
Verse Context:
Psalm 77:10–20 follows a pattern seen in psalms associated with Asaph. He often begins with a sense of bitterness or despair (Psalm 73:2–3; 74:1–3). Yet he always returns to the truths of God's character and his faith is renewed (Psalm 73:15–18; 74:12–23). In this case, he is so upset that he cannot sleep (Psalm 77:1–3). Yet he commits to what he already knows of the Lord. That brings him back to reassurance.
Chapter Summary:
Asaph struggles to sleep or find peace. Though he seeks to trust in God, he only feels more disturbed. This hardship causes him to question if the Lord has abandoned him, or possibly all the people of Israel. Still, Asaph is committed to remembering what he already knows about God. He remembers how God rescued His people at the Red Sea: with crashing thunder and brilliant lighting that caused the earth to tremble. Using Moses and Aaron, the Lord led Israel through the sea like a shepherd guiding sheep.
Chapter Context:
Asaph mourns at the beginning of this psalm; the exact reason is not given. What starts as a personal struggle takes on broader tones, suggesting that Asaph grieves something happening to Israel. As is common in psalms associated with Asaph, an early bitter tone eventually becomes reassured (Psalm 73:2–3, 15–18; 74:1–3, 12–13). The psalm echoes phrases found in other psalms (Psalm 97:4; 114:3) and prophetic books (Habakkuk 3:10).
Book Summary:
The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.
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