I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my
spirit was overwhelmed. Selah (Ps. 77:3).
The Psalmist here employs a variety of expressions to set
forth the vehemence of his grief, and, at the same time, the greatness of his
affliction. He complains that what constituted the only remedy for allaying his
sorrow became to him a source of disquietude.
It may, indeed, seem strange that the minds of true
believers should be troubled by remembering God. But the meaning of the
inspired writer simply is, that although he thought upon God his distress of
mind was not removed. It no doubt often happens that the remembrance of God in
the time of adversity aggravates the anguish and trouble of the godly, as, for
example, when they entertain the thought that he is angry with them.
The prophet, however, does not mean that his heart was
thrown into new distress and disquietude whenever God was brought to his
recollection: he only laments that no consolation proceeded from God to afford
him relief; and this is a trial which it is very hard to bear. It is not
surprising to see the wicked racked with dreadful mental agony; for, since
their great object and endeavor is to depart from God, they must suffer the
punishment which they deserve, on account of their rebellion against him. But
when the remembrance of God, from which we seek to draw consolation for
mitigating our calamities, does not afford repose or tranquility to our minds,
we are ready to think that he is sporting with us.
We are nevertheless taught from this passage, that however
much we may experience of fretting, sorrow, and disquietude, we must persevere
in calling upon God even in the midst of all these impediments. (Commentaries)
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