Psalms 77

4th Season. After desertion: desertion is a poisoned arrow shot to the heart (Job 6:4). God is called a fire and a light, the deserted soul feels the fire, but does not see the light; it cries out as Asaph (Psalm 77:8), Is his mercy clean gone? Now when the soul is in this case,…

What madness is it to meddle again with that sin, which will breed the worm of conscience! Secondly, Make up your spiritual accounts daily: See how matters stand between God and your souls (Psalm 77:6). I commune with my own heart: Often reckonings keep God and conscience friend…

Sickness is God's lance to let out the imposthume of sin (Isaiah 27:9). 3. In case of God's providences to his church: we wonder what God is doing with us, and are ready to kill ourselves with care; rest in God's wisdom, he knows best what he has to do (Psalm 77:19). His footste…

It is a dialogue with one's self. Psalm 77:7. I commune with my own heart. David called himself to account, and put interrogatories to his own heart.

Through the black spectacles of melancholy, God's dealings look sad and ghastly. Satan tempts the godly to have strange thoughts of God; to think he has cast off all pity, and has forgotten to be gracious (Psalm 77), and to make sad conclusions (Isaiah 38:13). I reckoned that as…

And thus the soul of one that fears God may be filled with doubts whether God will ever be merciful to him yes or no, and not know what God means to do with him, whether he shall go to heaven or hell. Psalm 77:7-9: 'Will the Lord be merciful?' — which speeches are spoken doubtin…

Thus that depth of sorrow with which that humbled Corinthian was well-nigh swallowed up (2 Corinthians 2:7) is ascribed to Satan when verse 11 it is made and termed one of his devices, which word does in part refer to the Corinthian's sorrow. Thus David also imputes that his que…

Let an inquisition be set up in your heart. So in Psalm 77:6 David in case of desertion is said to do: 'I communed with my own heart and made diligent search.' Now in this search, make inquiry into two things.

And thus, through much brooding upon and considering only what might make against them, they have had the bolts of their hearts so far shot into despair and fixed in desperate sorrow, and the true workings of sound evidences so far wrenched and twisted by false keys, that when t…

The remembrance of former things often upholds when present sense fails. This David practiced in the like case in Psalm 77:5-6. When his soul had refused comfort (as I told you in verse 2), yet in the end he began not only to be willing to listen to what might make for him, but…

And if prayer will do no good, I am undone.' And if through all these discouragements your condition proves worse and worse, so that you cannot pray but are struck dumb when you come into his presence (as David in Psalm 77:4: 'I am so troubled I cannot speak') — then fall to mak…

Remember the text says one who fears God may walk in darkness — not a step or two, but many wearisome turns in it. Heman was afflicted from his youth; David so long that in Psalm 77 he thought God had forgotten him. 'Does his promise fail forever?'

Now for the time of this eclipse of the favor of God, he not only darkens his love, but makes them feel also such a measure of his wrath, as that they will often think themselves castaways from the favor of God. David and Job were often exercised with this temptation, as appears…

Even so, when our case falls out to be this; that either by reason of sin, and of the temptation of Satan: or else by reason of some outward calamities and troubles, we feel our soul (as it were) overwhelmed with sorrow, and even entering into destruction, and can neither see (a…

This brings to his memory the wonderful goodness and mercy of God, by which he is comforted. When David was in a most desperate case, so as he cried out by reason of affliction and temptation, Will the Lord absent himself for ever, and will he show no more favor? Is his mercy cl…

But suppose that God should in this world distribute rewards and punishments constantly according to what he sees in the hearts and inward dispositions of the minds of men, it is no less evident that it would fill all men with unspeakable confusions, and prevail with them to jud…

1. By a loathness to apply the comforts of the Gospel; 'tis the hardest matter in the world to bring God and the soul together, or to be at rest in Christ, when we are truly sensible we draw back, depart from me (says Peter) for I am a sinful man, and he should rather say, draw…

The Heathen could say, the soul is made wise by sitting still in quietness. Though bankrupts care not to look into their books of account, yet upright hearts will know whether they go backward or forward (Psalm 77:6): 'I commune with my own heart.' The heart can never be kept un…

Let proper seasonable advice or comfort be tendered they refuse it, your counsel is good, but they have no heart to it now. Thus (Psalm 77:2), My soul, says he, refused to be comforted. To want comfort in time of affliction, is an aggravation of our affliction; but to refuse it,…

By the word; compare providence and the promise together. God's manner of administrations, and the meaning of them is understood by the word (Psalm 77:13). Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary.

He gently leads those that are with young, and will not suffer them to miscarry, in the bringing forth; He will not put new wine into old bottles, he will not cause to travel, and not make to bring forth; The Lord has given believers such a Servant as they stood in need of, even…

Secondly, some have pardon, but not peace; as David (Psalm 38:3), who had broken bones; and complains (verse 8), I am feeble and sore broken, I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. And the troubled Church (Psalm 77:1-4). Some have both peace and pardon; as some…

Why does David complain that he was as a bottle in the smoke, and pray so often that God would quicken him, if under a dead disposition we were not to pray? 4. If often the saints beginning to pray do speak words of unbelief and from a principle of nature, and if words flowing f…

4. Case. Suppose I have prayed and prayed, and find not my heart affected; it is dead, dull, distracted, I do no good; get no good in duty, I fear I offend God — what shall I do? Such a case is sad; yet consider, first, it may be the case of gracious hearts — David was so depres…

Is this the first plunge that ever befell me? Let me consider the days of old, the years of acient times, as Asaph did, Psalm 77:5 (3.) Lastly, Beware of slighting former straits and dngers in comparison with present nes.

But all this is easily put by and avoided, by onsulting our experiences in former cases. This is not the first time I have been in these straits, or the first time I have had the same doubts and despondencies; and yet, God has carried me hrough all, Psalm 77. 7, 8, 9, &c. This i…

Search backward into all the performances of Providence throughout your lives. So did Asaph in Psalm 77. 11, 12. I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember your wonders of old: I will meditate of all your works, and talk of your doings.

Neither on the other side will he be always chiding: his anger shall not burn for ever very sore. It is our infirmity (at the least) if we say, God has forgotten to be gracious, and shut up his tender mercies in displeasure (Psalm 77:9). But laying one thing against another, he…

Thirdly, if you would keep assurance, gather and heap together all the experiences you have had of God in your heart in times past. I called to remembrance the days of old (Psalm 77:7). Call to remembrance all the experiences you have had of God, and had of Christ, and of your o…

Secondly, meditate and think upon the comforts God gave you in former times, and call them to mind. Do as David did (Psalm 77): I called to mind the days of old, and the years of many generations. Call to mind ancient days — did not God show you his face?

It is so with godly men; many times they are so accustomed to sadness in the want of assurance, that they may refuse comforts when God offers them. Psalm 77:2 — it is the speech of Asaph: my soul refuses to be comforted; a strange speech. Though he was offered comfort, yet his s…

4. In examining the heart (Psalm 64:6). The heart is deep (Psalm 77:6). All these considered, you have cause to take pains in all the matters of the soul.

None of God's people are in their carriage always alike towards God in prayer. It is the speech of Asaph (Psalm 77:4), O Lord, my spirit is overwhelmed within me, I am sore troubled, I cannot speak. The man was so troubled, he could not speak, yet Asaph spoke these words with hi…

He shall be warmed and moved with compassion towards you. In like manner is the word used, Psalm 77:10. With respect to this heat of affections and abundant compassion, the word may well be applied to the Lord Christ our High Priest.

After this, after there was some allay, some ebb and fall of his overflowing sorrows, then he breaks forth in these words. Sorrow does sometimes not only oppress the spirit, but stop the mouth, I am so troubled that I cannot speak, says David (Psalm 77:4). That he could not spea…

The first part (that is) the spirit, is the most excellent, the deepest and the most noble part of man, with which he is apt to understand incomprehensible, invisible and eternal things: and to be short, it is the house where faith and the word of God are contained, of which Dav…

Those fools know not, that even when they rise and prosper, they are forsaken of God, and that God's arm is not with them. Therefore does their endeavor last an appointed season, and after that does it [reconstructed: fade] and vanish, like a bubble, and becomes as though it nev…

3. Christ's purpose cannot fail, neither can his design be altered, the contrivance thereof is so wise, and the execution so powerful, he cannot but attain his point. 4. However men may quarrel with Christ's way, and say it's not equal, as (Ezekiel 18:25), and although his way m…

Now this jealousy is said to be cruel, or hard: it is called, (Proverbs 6) the rage of a man; and this was the jealousy, or zeal that ate up David (Psalm 69), and so it is compared to the grave, which (Proverbs 30) is the first of these four things that are never satisfied, but…

I shall labor to stop the mouths of such, who are ready to open them against the King of Heaven, by proposing to consideration these following particulars. 1. That God's way is sometimes in the sea, and his paths in the great waters; and his footsteps are not known (Psalm 77:19)…

When God had punished Jerusalem with dreadful judgments, in the lamentation of which, the Prophet Jeremiah does spend a book, see what use and improvement he calls upon the people to make hereof (Lamentations 3:40): Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Thi…

How seasonable was Augustine's "take up and read," putting into his hands a fitting and pertinent Scripture, and effecting his ends thereby? Do you awaken your own spirits, call to remembrance your experiences and comforts at a dead lift, as David did in a like case (Psalm 77),…

5. The fifth duty wherein we are to offer violence to ourselves is self-examination; a duty of great importance. It is a parleying with one's own heart (Psalm 77:7). "I commune with my own heart."

The physical indisposition to pray does not take away the moral obligation to pray then. 2. Though pain and extreme soul-heaviness that the man cannot speak (Psalm 77:4), and Hezekiah can but chatter as a crane or a swallow (Isaiah 38:14), and the Church can scarce breath out a…

Psalm 141: David prays for his own prayers: it is a great art to carry equally the running over cup of consolation, or to guide the comforts of the Spirit: when the man is high, the head is giddy. Psalm 77:6, 7: I will offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of praise, I will sing, y…

2. It implies sickness and weakening of the person, as in Amnon's love to his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:1, 2, 3, 4). It comes from apprehended wrath, and the curse of the Law (Psalms 90:8; Psalms 32:3, 4; Psalms 6:1; Psalms 38:1, 2, 3, 4, &c.; Daniel 9:11; Romans 7:24; Isaiah 33…

As, that all shall be taught of God; the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord; the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun as the light of seven days (Jeremiah 31:31, 32, 33; Isaiah 54:11, 12, 13; Isaiah 11:6, 9; Ezekiel 36:26…

Any who believes that the wind blows where it lists, and that the influences of the Spirit are various as touching their degrees may see the truth of this. 2. The children of God appear dead, cold, and unbelievingly to complain in the beginning of praying, and of a Psalm, as is…

As also there is a heavenly disposition in the memory to retain the word (Psalm 119:11), forbidden (Hebrews 2:1). And gracious dispositions go through the whole soul, in order to all gracious actings, in mind, conscience, will, memory, affections of love, faith, hope, desire, fe…

A fettered man can act little; hence drought of soul, and the rain of influences are withholden. 2. Heaviness of desertion brings on straitning (Psalm 77:4): You holdest mine eyes waking, I am so troubled that I cannot speak. Possibly from this Hezekiah is locked up in chatterin…