Psa 77:16-20 | NETfull | STEP | The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and trembled. Yes, the depths of the sea shook with fear.

Psalms 77:16-20

16 The waters ^{▼▼ The waters of the Red Sea are here personified; they are portrayed as seeing God and fearing him.} saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and trembled. ^{▼▼ The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a preterite or as an imperfect with past progressive force.}
Yes, the depths of the sea ^{▼▼ The words “of the sea” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.} shook with fear. ^{▼▼ The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a preterite or as an imperfect with past progressive force.}
17 The clouds poured down rain; ^{▼▼ Heb “water.”}
the skies thundered. ^{▼▼ Heb “a sound the clouds gave.”}
Yes, your arrows ^{▼▼ The lightning accompanying the storm is portrayed as the Lord’s “arrows” (see v. 18).} flashed about.
18 Your thunderous voice was heard in the wind;
the lightning bolts lit up the world;
the earth trembled and shook. ^{▼▼ The prefixed verbal form may be taken as a preterite or as an imperfect with past progressive force.} ^{▼▼ Verses 16–18 depict the Lord coming in the storm to battle his enemies and subdue the sea. There is no record of such a storm in the historical account of the Red Sea crossing. The language the psalmist uses here is stereotypical and originates in Canaanite myth, where the storm god Baal subdues the sea in his quest for kingship. The psalmist has employed the stereotypical imagery to portray the exodus vividly and at the same time affirm that it is not Baal who subdues the sea, but Yahweh.}
19 You walked through the sea; ^{▼▼ Heb “in the sea [was] your way.”}
you passed through the surging waters, ^{▼▼ Heb “and your paths [were] in the mighty waters.”}
but left no footprints. ^{▼▼ Heb “and your footprints were not known.”}
You led your people like a flock of sheep,
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Psalm 78

^{▼▼ Psalm 78. The author of this lengthy didactic psalm rehearses Israel’s history. He praises God for his power, goodness and patience, but also reminds his audience that sin angers God and prompts his judgment. In the conclusion to the psalm the author elevates Jerusalem as God’s chosen city and David as his chosen king.}

A well-written song by Asaph.

20 ^{▼▼ The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. See the note on the phrase “well-written song” in the superscription of Ps 74.}