Psalms 77:2

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

In the day {H3117} of my trouble {H6869} I sought {H1875}{H8804)} the Lord {H136}: my sore {H3027} ran {H5064}{H8738)} in the night {H3915}, and ceased {H6313}{H8799)} not: my soul {H5315} refused {H3985}{H8765)} to be comforted {H5162}{H8736)}.

On the day of my distress I am seeking Adonai; my hands are lifted up; my tears flow all night without ceasing; my heart refuses comfort.

In the day of trouble I sought the Lord; through the night my outstretched hands did not grow weary; my soul refused to be comforted.

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: My hand was stretched out in the night, and slacked not; My soul refused to be comforted.

Psalms 77:2 captures the raw, unfiltered cry of a soul in deep distress. The psalmist, Asaph, expresses his immediate response to suffering: turning to God. Yet, the verse quickly reveals the profound depth of his anguish, where pain is ceaseless, and comfort seems unattainable. This verse sets the stage for a powerful journey through doubt and despair towards remembrance of God's faithfulness.

Context

Psalm 77 is a profound psalm of lament, attributed to Asaph, one of the chief musicians and seers during King David's reign. It begins with the psalmist's overwhelming personal crisis, marked by sleepless nights and intense emotional turmoil. The initial verses, including verse 2, vividly portray a soul struggling with doubt and confusion, questioning God's silence and past actions amidst present suffering. This psalm is a powerful example of biblical lament, where honest expression of pain often precedes a renewed focus on God's character and mighty deeds, as seen later in the chapter.

Key Themes

  • Seeking God in Distress: The psalmist's first action in his "day of trouble" is to seek the Lord, highlighting a foundational biblical response to crisis. This immediate turning to God underscores the importance of calling upon God in times of affliction.
  • Profound and Relentless Anguish: The phrase "my sore ran in the night, and ceased not" is a vivid, perhaps archaic, metaphor for ceaseless, debilitating pain or suffering. It conveys an affliction that offers no respite, even in the quiet of night. This imagery speaks to the overwhelming nature of the psalmist's distress.
  • Inability to Receive Comfort: "My soul refused to be comforted" reveals a deep spiritual and emotional state where the suffering is so intense that normal means of solace are ineffective. This highlights the profound despair and isolation the psalmist feels, suggesting a battle not just with external circumstances but with an internal struggle to find peace.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "my sore ran" (KJV) translates the Hebrew word nagaph (נָגַף), which often means "to strike, smite, or plague." While it can refer to a physical wound, in this context, it's widely understood as a metaphor for a continuous, painful affliction of the soul or spirit that "strikes" or is "active" incessantly. Some ancient translations interpret it as "my hand was stretched out" (in prayer) without ceasing, emphasizing the psalmist's persistent yet seemingly unavailing supplication.

Related Scriptures

  • The psalmist's experience of his "soul refused to be comforted" resonates with the biblical truth that God is the ultimate source of solace. For a deeper understanding of God's comforting nature, consider 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, which speaks of God as "the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort."
  • This verse's depiction of intense suffering in a "day of trouble" can be further explored by contrasting it with the assurance found in Psalm 46:1: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Practical Application

Psalms 77:2 offers a profound validation for those experiencing overwhelming pain or despair. It teaches us that:

  1. Honesty in Prayer is Vital: It is acceptable, even encouraged, to express the raw depth of our pain, anguish, and inability to find comfort to God. He can handle our most profound despair.
  2. Seeking God is the First Step: Even when comfort seems distant, the act of turning to the Lord in our trouble is a crucial and foundational response, demonstrating faith even amidst struggle.
  3. Suffering Can Be Relentless: The verse acknowledges that some periods of suffering are continuous and debilitating, offering a biblical understanding of prolonged emotional or spiritual distress. This recognition can be a source of solace in itself, knowing that others, including biblical figures, have felt similarly.

Ultimately, this verse reminds us that even when our souls refuse comfort, the initial act of seeking the Lord is a critical step towards eventual healing and renewed hope, as the rest of Psalm 77 demonstrates through the psalmist's journey of remembering God's past faithfulness.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 50:15

    And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

  • Genesis 37:35

    And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

  • Isaiah 26:9

    With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments [are] in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

  • Isaiah 26:16

    LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer [when] thy chastening [was] upon them.

  • Hebrews 5:7

    Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

  • Esther 4:1

    ¶ When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;

  • Esther 4:4

    So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told [it] her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received [it] not.

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