Psalm 77 7

Psalm 77:7 kjv

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

Psalm 77:7 nkjv

Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more?

Psalm 77:7 niv

"Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again?

Psalm 77:7 esv

"Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?

Psalm 77:7 nlt

Has the Lord rejected me forever?
Will he never again be kind to me?

Psalm 77 verses

Psalm 77 7 Meaning

Psalm 77:7 expresses the profound anguish and internal struggle of the psalmist, Asaph. It is a desperate, rhetorical question arising from a perceived silence or abandonment by God in a time of deep distress. The verse asks if the sovereign Lord (Adonai) will irrevocably reject His people and cease His covenantal favor, thereby breaking His steadfast love and faithfulness for all time. This query reveals a crisis of faith, not necessarily a denial of God's character, but a wrestling with how divine action (or perceived inaction) aligns with His promises during overwhelming suffering.

Psalm 77 7 Context

Psalm 77 is a deeply personal lament of Asaph, a prominent choir director and Levitical musician (1 Chr 6:39). The psalm falls into two distinct sections. Verses 1-9 primarily describe the psalmist's intense emotional distress and his struggle to find comfort or understanding. He recounts crying out to God, meditating on past joys that now only deepen his sorrow, and asking a series of rhetorical questions—like Psalm 77:7—that express his deepest fears regarding God's character and covenant faithfulness. These questions highlight the theological tension between God's unchanging nature and the worshiper's experience of profound suffering and apparent divine absence. The historical context reflects a time of significant trouble, perhaps an invasion, exile, or profound national suffering, prompting the community or the individual to question God's perceived withdrawal.

Psalm 77 7 Word analysis

• Will the Lord (הֲלְעוֹלָם אֲדֹנָי, ha-le'olam Adonai)
  • הֲ (Ha-): An interrogative prefix, indicating a question, adding a sense of rhetorical questioning and deep concern.
  • לְעוֹלָם (le'olam): "Forever," "eternally," or "for a long time." This adverb emphasizes the duration and absolute nature of the psalmist's fear. It speaks of something ongoing and potentially without end.
  • אֲדֹנָי (Adonai): "My Lord," "Master." This specific divine name emphasizes God's sovereignty and authority. It is a title of respect and dominion, deepening the psalmist's agony as he questions if this ultimate, sovereign Lord would truly act so contradictorily to His nature. It implicitly invokes God's covenant relationship and powerful attributes.
• cast off (יִזְנַח, yiznach)
  • Derived from the root meaning "to cast away," "to reject," "to abandon," "to spurn." This is a strong verb indicating a complete and decisive act of renunciation. The psalmist fears not just neglect but active rejection by God. This word highlights the depth of his feeling of estrangement.
• for ever? (לָנֶצַח, lanetzach)
  • Another word for "forever," "eternally," or "to victory/completeness." The use of a second word for "forever" amplifies the preceding "le'olam." This literary device underscores the extreme, seemingly endless duration of the feared divine rejection, showing the intensity of the psalmist's distress and doubt regarding God's enduring faithfulness. It’s an emphasis, like "forever and ever."
• and will He be favorable (לֹא יֹסִיף לִרְצוֹת עוֹד, lo yosif lirtzot od) no more?
  • לֹא יֹסִיף (lo yosif): "Will not add," "will not continue," "will no longer." This indicates a cessation of previous action, implying that God once was favorable, but is now perceived to have stopped.
  • לִרְצוֹת (lirtzot): "To be pleased with," "to accept," "to show favor," "to have delight in." This term signifies divine approval, acceptance, and a positive, gracious disposition towards His people. The psalmist questions if this fundamental aspect of God's covenantal relationship has ceased permanently.
  • עוֹד (od): "Still," "again," "anymore." This final word reinforces the idea of something that was present and now is feared to be irrevocably gone. It amplifies the sense of permanent loss.

• Words-Group analysis:
  • "Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will He be favorable no more?": The dual use of "forever" (`le'olam` and `lanetzach`) vividly expresses the extremity of the psalmist's fear – that God's perceived abandonment is not just temporary discipline but an eternal severing of the covenant. The contrast between "cast off" (active rejection) and "favorable no more" (cessation of positive regard) captures the comprehensive nature of the psalmist's despair concerning God's continuing involvement and benevolence. This deep questioning aligns with biblical laments that often explore the perceived tension between God's character and experienced reality.
  • The phrasing reveals a wrestling with God's very nature and promises. Is God behaving contrary to who He has revealed Himself to be? This isn't a declaration of God's faithlessness, but an agonizing, deeply honest cry seeking reassurance amidst profound spiritual turmoil, common in psalms of lament and prophetic discourse during times of judgment or crisis.

Psalm 77 7 Bonus section

This verse encapsulates a crucial aspect of biblical lament: the permitted audacity of questioning God's actions and character within the framework of a covenant relationship. It is not blasphemy, but rather a deeply faithful act of demanding consistency from a covenant-keeping God. The psalmist, even in his distress, appeals to "Adonai," acknowledging His ultimate authority, yet pleading for His continued adherence to His own divine nature of mercy and faithfulness. This contrasts sharply with pagan deities who were understood to be fickle and unreliable; the Israelite's lament is born from an expectation of a consistent and righteous God. The repetition and intensification through "le'olam" and "lanetzach" highlight not just the duration but also the irrevocability that the psalmist fears, creating a theological challenge for God to prove Himself otherwise. The subsequent verses in Psalm 77 shift from questioning to remembering God's past deeds, showing the pathway from doubt back to reassurance.

Psalm 77 7 Commentary

Psalm 77:7 stands as a poignant expression of faith's profound struggle during affliction. Asaph, using deeply emotive and rhetorical questions, voices the fear that God has abrogated His covenantal relationship and forever withdrawn His steadfast love. This verse isn't a theological conclusion but a raw outpouring of human despair, challenging God's faithfulness in the face of His apparent absence or indifference. It resonates with many believers who experience periods of "dark night of the soul," when God's favor feels withdrawn. Yet, the very act of bringing these questions to Adonai—the sovereign, covenant Lord—demonstrates a persistent, if agonizing, faith that God alone possesses the answer and the power to reverse such a perceived state. It serves as a model for honest prayer and lament within faith, rather than outside of it. For instance, in times of job loss or severe illness, one might secretly fear that God's provision or healing touch is "no more," much like Asaph. This verse validates voicing such fears while holding onto God's ultimate unchanging character, which the latter part of the psalm reaffirms.