Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Psalms

Psalms 
Day 
Day 76

Psalm 77:2b "My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing..."

Day 76 – Psalm 77

“My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing…” Psalm 77:2b

HOW SHOULD THE LORD BE SOUGHT IN PRAYER?

Asaph’s prayer was meant to be both personal and instructive to the congregation. How should the Lord be sought in prayer?

“In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing…”
Psalm 77:2a,b

1. “My hand was stretched out”

a) Prayer to God was also symbolically represented.
b) The stretching out of the hand was a symbol well understood.
i) It represented that of a person in need stretching out his hands as a plea for help.
ii) It is like that of a child reaching out to his father for assistance.
iii) It represented the prayer of a humble petitioner pleading for Divine mercy.
iv) Great humility is to be present in the heart.

2. “In the night”

a) Asaph recalled a time when he was in trouble.
b) There were formal, public prayers offered.
c) But these efforts were not deemed to be sufficient.
d) He continued to pray “in the night”.

3. “Without ceasing”

a) Great effort was put in.
b) Nothing was taken for granted.
c) Till God answered and gave assurance prayer was offered.
d) Till the heart found peace prayer was offered- without ceasing.

HAVE YOU TRIED TO STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME?

You will be surprised how hard and how painful your arms would be! Asaph must have ignored the pain he felt. He continued to be driven to seek God in prayer in the day of his trouble.