Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 77:5
I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
5. I considered the days of old,
The years of ages past, (saying),
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
5. “Not pathetic only but profound also and of the most solid substance was that reply made by an old Carthusian monk to the trifler who asked him how he had managed to get through his life: Cogitavi dies antiquos, et annos aeternos in mente habui.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I have considered the days of old – Rather, I do consider; that is, I think upon. This refers to his resolution in his perplexity and trouble; the method to which he resorted in examining the subject, and in endeavoring to allay his troubles. He resolved to look at the past. He asked what was the evidence which was furnished on the subject by the former dealings of God with himself and with mankind; what could be learned from those dealings in regard to the great and difficult questions which now so perplexed his mind.
The years of ancient times – The records and remembrances of past ages. What is the testimony which the history of the world bears on this subject? Does it prove that God is worthy of confidence or not? Does it or does it not authorize and justify these painful thoughts which pass through the mind?
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 77:5
I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
Lessons drawn from Scripture history
From the history of the Bible we may learn much concerning–
I. The character of God.
1. His wisdom.
2. His power.
3. His holiness and justice.
4. His goodness.
5. His faithfulness to His promises.
6. His unchangeableness.
II. The value of the blessings of redemption.
1. The greatness of the preparations made to obtain it.
2. The greatness of the sacrifice made to purchase it.
3. The greatness of the means used to proclaim it.
III. The condition, character, and fate of man.
1. In his natural state.
2. As redeemed.
(1) The way of salvation.
(2) The failings of the people of God.
(3) The sorrows and fears of the godly.
(4) The Christians reward. (W. Dickson.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 5. I have considered the days of old] chishshabti, I have counted up; I have reckoned up the various dispensations of thy mercy in behalf of the distressed, marked down in the history of our fathers.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I have considered, if by that means I could get any comfort, the days of old, i.e. the mighty works of God done for his people in former times.
Days are put for events done in them, as Psa 37:13; 137:7; Oba 1:12; Mic 7:4.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3-9. His sad state contrastedwith former joys.
was troubledliterally,”violently agitated,” or disquieted (Psa 39:6;Psa 41:5).
my spirit was overwhelmedor,”fainted” (Psa 107:5;Jon 2:7).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I have considered the days of old,…. Either the former part of his life, the various occurrences of it, how it had been with him in time past, what experience he had had of the divine goodness; so the Syriac version renders it, “I have considered my days of old”; or the preceding age, and what has happened in that, which his ancestors had acquainted him with; or rather many ages past, from the days of Adam to the then present time; at least it may include the Israelites coming out of Egypt, their passage through the Red sea and wilderness, the times of the judges, and what befell them in their days, and how they were delivered out of their troubles; as appears from the latter part of the psalm, and with which agrees the following clause:
the years of ancient times; or, “of ages” n; of times long ago past; it is very useful to read the history of the Bible, with respect to ancient times, and so the ecclesiastical history of ages past, and observe the faith and dependence of the Lord’s people upon him, and their deliverance out of trouble by him; which may be a means of strengthening faith in him, and of relief under present trials; but frequently the goodness of former times is only observed as an aggravation of the badness of the present ones, and of trouble in them; see Ec 7:10, the Targum interprets the whole of happy days and times, paraphrasing it thus,
“I have mentioned the good days which were of old, the good years which were of ages past.”
n “annos seculorum”, Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Piscator, Cocceius, Gejerus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
5. I have recounted the days of old. There is no doubt that he endeavored to assuage his grief by the remembrance of his former joy; but he informs us that relief was not so easily nor so speedily obtained. By the days of old, and the years of ancient times, he seems not only to refer to the brief course of his own life, but to comprehend many ages. The people of God, in their afflictions, ought, undoubtedly, to set before their eyes, and to call to their remembrance, not only the Divine blessings which they have individually experienced, but also all the blessings which God in every age has bestowed upon his Church It may, however, be easily gathered from the text, that when the prophet reckoned up in his own mind the mercies which God had bestowed in time past, he began with his own experience.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
5. I have considered the days of old I recount the providence of God toward the nation in ancient times, and contrast with that its present forsaken condition.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jesus spent whole nights, we are told, in prayer to God. No doubt the love of God to Israel, through all the eventful pilgrimage of his church’s warfare, occupied his holy mind. It is blessed, in our present exercises, to look back and compare them with former deliverances, either in our own instance, or the instances of the church.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 77:5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
Ver. 5. I have considered the days of old ] What thou didst for Adam, Abraham, Israel, in Egypt, &c., all which was written purposely, that we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope. See Deu 32:7 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 74:12-18, Psa 143:5, Deu 32:7, Isa 51:9, Isa 63:9-15, Mic 7:14, Mic 7:15
Reciprocal: Job 35:14 – yet Psa 77:10 – the years Psa 119:52 – remembered Isa 63:11 – he remembered Jer 2:6 – Where Lam 1:7 – remembered Hag 1:9 – Why
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 77:5-6. I have considered the days of old The mighty works of God, wrought for his people in former times, if by that means I could get any comfort. I call to remembrance my song in the night The many and great mercies and favours of God vouchsafed to me and his people, which have obliged me to adore him and sing his praise, not only in the day, the time appointed for that work, but also by night, as often as they came into my mind. My spirit made diligent search What should be the reason of this strange and vast alteration, and how this sore trouble could come from the hand of so gracious and merciful a God as ours is, and what might be expected as to its continuance or removal. A recollection of former mercies is the proper antidote against a temptation to despair in the day of calamity: and as in the divine dispensations, which are always uniform and like themselves, whatever has happened may, and probably will, happen again when the circumstances are similar; the experience of ancient times is to be called in to our aid, and duly consulted. Upon these topics we should, in the night of affliction, commune with our own hearts, and make diligent search, as Daniel did in Babylon, into the cause of our troubles, with the proper methods of shortening and bringing them to an end; by suffering them to have their intended and full effect in a sincere repentance, and thorough reformation. Horne.