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.
Original Language Analysis
בְּי֥וֹם
In the day
H3117
בְּי֥וֹם
In the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
1 of 12
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
דָּ֫רָ֥שְׁתִּי
I sought
H1875
דָּ֫רָ֥שְׁתִּי
I sought
Strong's:
H1875
Word #:
4 of 12
properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship
יָדִ֤י׀
my sore
H3027
יָדִ֤י׀
my sore
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
5 of 12
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
לַ֣יְלָה
in the night
H3915
לַ֣יְלָה
in the night
Strong's:
H3915
Word #:
6 of 12
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
נִ֭גְּרָה
ran
H5064
נִ֭גְּרָה
ran
Strong's:
H5064
Word #:
7 of 12
to flow; figuratively, to stretch out; causatively, to pour out or down; figuratively, to deliver over
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
8 of 12
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
Psalms 50:15And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.Genesis 37:35And 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 26:9With 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 26:16LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.Hebrews 5:7Who 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;Jeremiah 31:15Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.Psalms 86:7In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.Psalms 63:6When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.Psalms 18:6In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.Job 11:13If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
Historical Context
Asaph served as one of David's chief musicians and psalmists (1 Chronicles 16:4-7). The superscription "To Jeduthun" likely indicates the musical guild responsible for performing this lament. The psalm reflects either personal crisis or national catastrophe—possibly the Assyrian invasion or Babylonian exile. The night-long prayer vigil was common in Israelite worship (Psalms 6:6, 42:8, 63:6), demonstrating persistent faith even in darkness.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the Hebrew word <em>darash</em> (earnest seeking) challenge superficial prayer habits?
- What does inconsolable grief teach about the limits of human comfort and the necessity of divine intervention?
- How does Christ's Gethsemane experience (Luke 22:44) parallel this night of anguish and persistent prayer?
Analysis & Commentary
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord (בְּיוֹם צָרָתִי אֲדֹנָי דָּרַשְׁתִּי)—the Hebrew darash (דָּרַשׁ) means to seek earnestly, inquire, or pursue with intensity. This is not casual prayer but desperate pursuit. The phrase my sore ran in the night, and ceased not (יָדִי לַיְלָה נִגְּרָה) literally reads "my hand [was stretched out] in the night, dripping/flowing"—a vivid image of unceasing prayer with tears or upheld hands in supplication that never lowered.
My soul refused to be comforted (וַתְּמָאֵן הִנָּחֵם נַפְשִׁי) uses ma'en (refuse, be unwilling) with nacham (to comfort, console). The psalmist experienced inconsolable grief—a state where even legitimate attempts at comfort fail to penetrate. This radical honesty about spiritual desolation appears throughout the Psalms, validating the experience of believers who cry out to God yet find no immediate relief. The dark night of the soul precedes dawn.