Psalms 77:7

KJV

Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?

KJV (with Strong's)

Will the Lord {H136} cast off {H2186}{H8799)} for ever {H5769}? and will {H3254}{H8686)} he be favourable {H7521}{H8800)} no more?

Complete Jewish Bible

"Will Adonai reject forever? will he never show his favor again?

Berean Standard Bible

“Will the Lord spurn us forever and never show His favor again?

American Standard Version

Will the Lord cast off for ever? And will he be favorable no more?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalms 77:7 captures the psalmist Asaph's profound spiritual anguish and doubt, articulating a desperate cry to God in a moment of deep distress. It poses two piercing rhetorical questions: "Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?" These questions express a fear that God's covenant loyalty and active goodwill towards His people have permanently ceased, reflecting a universal human experience of spiritual crisis where one grapples with the perceived absence or withdrawal of divine favor amidst suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalms 77 is a lament psalm, beginning with the psalmist's intense personal suffering and fervent cry to God in verses [1-6](/psalms/77-1 "Psalm 77:1-6 - Asaph's Cry of Distress"). Asaph describes his sleepless nights, incessant groaning, and an overwhelming spirit, finding no comfort even in remembering past blessings. Verses [7-9](/psalms/77-7 "Psalm 77:7-9 - Asaph's Desperate Questions") introduce a series of five rhetorical questions, of which verse 7 is the first, probing God's faithfulness, mercy, and enduring promises. This section marks the climax of the psalmist's despair before a significant turning point in [verse 10](/psalms/77-10 "Psalm 77:10 - The Turning Point in Psalm 77"), where he resolves to remember God's mighty deeds of old. The psalm then shifts from personal lament to a communal remembrance of God's powerful acts of deliverance, particularly the Exodus, culminating in a renewed trust in God's unchanging character and redemptive history.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While the specific historical occasion for Asaph's lament is not stated, the language suggests a period of national or personal calamity, possibly an exile, invasion, or severe oppression, where God's people felt abandoned. In ancient Israel, God's "favor" (Hebrew: *ratzah*) was intrinsically linked to His covenant relationship with His people, signifying His acceptance, pleasure, and active blessing. To be "cast off" (Hebrew: *zanach*) implied a breach of this covenant, a terrifying prospect for a people whose identity and security were rooted in their relationship with Yahweh. The act of lamenting through rhetorical questions was a common biblical practice, not necessarily an expression of theological disbelief, but rather a raw, honest outpouring of pain and a desperate plea for God to act, drawing on the deep conviction that God *could* and *should* intervene based on His character and past actions, as seen in other laments like [Psalm 13](/psalms/13 "Psalm 13 - A Psalm of Lament and Trust").
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates the human experience of **doubt and despair** within the journey of faith. It normalizes the difficult emotions of questioning God's presence and commitment during periods of suffering or perceived absence, demonstrating that even devout individuals can wrestle with such profound spiritual crises. Underlying this is a deep concern for **God's enduring favor** and **covenant faithfulness**. The psalmist's fear that God's *ratzah* (favor, acceptance) has been withdrawn highlights the preciousness of God's active goodwill and the terror of its perceived loss. This directly touches upon the foundational belief that God's covenant with Israel, particularly the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants, was eternal and unbreakable. The psalmist is wrestling with the tension between his present suffering and God's historical pattern of deliverance and love, a tension resolved by the psalm's ultimate affirmation of God's unfailing character and redemptive power, as God's steadfast love is proclaimed in passages like [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22 "Lamentations 3:22-23 - The Lord's Mercies Never Come to an End").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Cast off (Hebrew, _zanach'_):** This verb means "to reject," "to abandon," "to spurn," or "to forsake." It conveys a strong sense of finality and utter dismissal, implying a permanent severance of relationship. In the context of the covenant, it signifies the terrifying prospect of God completely withdrawing His presence and protection from His people. The psalmist's use of "for ever" (לָנֶצַח, *lanetzach*) intensifies this dread, indicating a fear of irreversible, eternal rejection.
* **Favourable (Hebrew, _ratzah'_):** This verb signifies "to be pleased with," "to accept," "to show goodwill," or "to delight in." It describes God's active pleasure, approval, and acceptance of His people, which is a hallmark of His covenant relationship. The question "will he be favourable no more?" expresses the agonizing fear that God's active goodwill, His delight in His people, and His willingness to accept their worship and petitions have ceased permanently. This word is often associated with acceptable sacrifices and offerings, implying a fear that even their worship is no longer pleasing to God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Will the Lord cast off for ever?"**: This is the first of two rhetorical questions, expressing a profound and painful doubt about God's enduring commitment. The psalmist fears that God has not merely disciplined or temporarily withdrawn, but has utterly and permanently rejected His people, severing the covenant bond. The phrase "for ever" underscores the depth of this despair, suggesting a perceived irreversible abandonment. It reflects a crisis of faith concerning God's faithfulness to His promises.
* **"and will he be favourable no more?"**: This second question reiterates and amplifies the first, focusing on the cessation of God's active goodwill and acceptance. If God is no longer "favorable," it implies a complete withdrawal of blessing, protection, and responsiveness to prayer. This fear strikes at the heart of the covenant relationship, where God's favor was the source of life, prosperity, and security for Israel. The psalmist is questioning whether the very essence of God's benevolent disposition toward them has vanished.

#### Literary Devices
Psalms 77:7 employs several powerful literary devices to convey the psalmist's deep anguish. The primary device is the **Rhetorical Question**, which dominates this verse and the subsequent two verses ([77:8-9](/psalms/77-8 "Psalm 77:8-9 - More Desperate Questions")). These are not questions seeking information but expressions of profound doubt, despair, and a desperate plea for reassurance. They highlight the intensity of the psalmist's emotional and spiritual struggle. **Parallelism** is also evident, specifically a form of synonymous or amplifying parallelism, where the second question ("will he be favourable no more?") echoes and intensifies the first ("Will the Lord cast off for ever?"). Both clauses convey the same core fear of God's permanent rejection and withdrawal of favor, reinforcing the depth of the psalmist's perceived abandonment. Finally, there is an element of **Hyperbole** in the use of "for ever" and "no more," reflecting the overwhelming nature of the psalmist's present suffering, which makes the cessation of God's favor feel absolute and eternal, even if intellectually the psalmist knows God's covenant is everlasting.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 77:7 profoundly connects to the broader biblical themes of God's unwavering faithfulness, the nature of lament, and the enduring covenant. Despite the psalmist's expressed doubts, the very act of bringing these questions to God demonstrates an underlying, albeit struggling, faith in God's character and His ability to hear and respond. This verse highlights the tension between human experience of suffering and the theological truth of God's immutability and steadfast love. It reminds us that God's favor is not based on our fluctuating feelings or circumstances, but on His eternal nature and unbreakable promises. The psalm's trajectory, moving from deep lament to a remembrance of God's mighty acts, implicitly answers these questions, affirming that God does not cast off His people forever, nor does His favor cease.

* [Isaiah 49:15](/isaiah/49-15 "Isaiah 49:15 - Can a Mother Forget Her Child?")
* [Romans 8:38-39](/romans/8-38 "Romans 8:38-39 - The Steadfastness of God's Love")
* [Hebrews 13:5](/hebrews/13-5 "Hebrews 13:5 - God Will Never Leave You")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 77:7 offers profound solace to believers today by validating the reality of spiritual struggle and the normalcy of doubt within faith. It teaches us that authentic faith is not the absence of questions or despair, but the courage to bring our raw, honest emotions and deepest fears directly to God. The psalmist models a vital spiritual practice: rather than suppressing doubt or turning away from God, he pours out his heart, trusting that God is big enough to handle his most agonizing questions. This verse encourages us to anchor our hope not in fleeting emotions or challenging circumstances, but in the unchanging character of the Lord, who is indeed favorable and will never cast off His own. When we feel abandoned or that God's favor has ceased, we are called to actively remember His past faithfulness, His covenant promises, and His steadfast love, allowing the objective truth of His character to reorient our subjective experience.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you currently tempted to ask, "Will the Lord cast off for ever?" or "Will He be favourable no more?"**
* **How does the psalmist's honesty in expressing doubt encourage you in your own faith journey?**
* **What specific past acts of God's faithfulness (in your life or in biblical history) can you intentionally recall when you feel His favor has diminished?**

### FAQ

**Is it wrong for a believer to doubt God's faithfulness or favor?**

Answer: No, Psalms 77:7, along with many other biblical laments, demonstrates that it is not inherently wrong for a believer to experience doubt or question God's faithfulness, especially during times of intense suffering or perceived divine silence. The Bible provides a safe space for such raw honesty. The psalmist, a devout worshiper, brings his deepest fears and questions directly to God, indicating that God is able to handle our doubts. The key is not to dwell in doubt but to bring it before God and, like Asaph, move towards remembering God's unchanging character and His past acts of deliverance, as seen in [Psalm 77:11-12](/psalms/77-11 "Psalm 77:11-12 - Remembering God's Mighty Deeds"). Doubt can even be a catalyst for deeper faith when it drives us to seek God more earnestly and to re-examine the foundations of our belief.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 77:7, with its anguished cry concerning God's potential abandonment and loss of favor, finds its ultimate and definitive answer in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The psalmist's fear of being "cast off for ever" is precisely what Christ endured on the cross. In His cry, "[My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")," Jesus experienced the ultimate "casting off" and the withdrawal of the Father's favor, not for His own sin, but as the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ secured eternal favor and acceptance for all who believe, ensuring that those who are "in Christ" will never be cast off. The New Covenant, established through His blood, guarantees God's enduring favor and an unbreakable relationship, as promised in [Hebrews 8:10-12](/hebrews/8-10 "Hebrews 8:10-12 - The New Covenant Promises"). Believers now stand eternally accepted and beloved, not based on their own merit or fluctuating feelings, but on the perfect and finished work of Jesus, who is our everlasting High Priest and the guarantee of God's unchanging love ([Hebrews 7:24-25](/hebrews/7-24 "Hebrews 7:24-25 - Christ, Our Eternal Priest")). Thus, the terrifying questions of Psalms 77:7 are definitively answered by the cross and resurrection, where God's favor is eternally secured for His people.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 85:1

¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.

Psalms 89:46

How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?

Lamentations 3:31

For the Lord will not cast off for ever:

Lamentations 3:32

But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

Psalms 85:5

Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?

Romans 11:1

¶ I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin.

Romans 11:2

God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,