What does Psalm 77:3 mean?
ESV: When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah
NIV: I remembered you, God, and I groaned; I meditated, and my spirit grew faint.
NASB: When I remember God, then I am restless; When I sigh, then my spirit feels weak. Selah
CSB: I think of God; I groan; I meditate; my spirit becomes weak. Selah
NLT: I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. Interlude
KJV: I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
NKJV: I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah
Verse Commentary:
Verse Context:
Psalm 77:1–9 reveals Asaph's deep, honest angst. He is so disturbed that he cannot sleep. Even when he tries to understand God, he only becomes more upset. He feels as if the Lord has abandoned him. In fact, it seems as if God has forgotten all His promises to Israel. Asaph does not stop here, however. He will continue to wrestle with these feelings by looking back on what God has done (Psalm 77:10).
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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