◄ Psalm 77:18 ►
Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
Study Bible
Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind;
This phrase evokes the powerful presence of God, often associated with thunder and storms in biblical literature. Thunder is frequently used as a symbol of God's voice and authority (Exodus 19:16, Job 37:4-5). The whirlwind signifies God's dynamic and uncontrollable power, as seen in the story of Elijah being taken up to heaven (2 Kings 2:11) and God's response to Job (Job 38:1). This imagery underscores God's sovereignty over creation and His ability to intervene in human affairs with overwhelming force.

the lightning lit up the world;
Lightning is a common biblical metaphor for God's revelation and judgment. It illuminates the darkness, symbolizing the clarity and truth of God's word (Psalm 119:105). In the context of divine judgment, lightning represents the sudden and undeniable nature of God's intervention (Matthew 24:27). This phrase also connects to the theophany at Mount Sinai, where God's presence was accompanied by thunder and lightning (Exodus 19:16), highlighting His holiness and the awe-inspiring nature of His presence.

the earth trembled and quaked.
Earthquakes in the Bible often signify God's presence and action, marking significant events such as the giving of the Law at Sinai (Exodus 19:18) and the resurrection of Christ (Matthew 28:2). This imagery conveys the idea that God's power is so immense that it causes the very foundations of the earth to shake. It serves as a reminder of God's ultimate control over the natural world and His ability to disrupt the status quo to fulfill His purposes. The trembling earth also foreshadows the eschatological shaking of creation in the end times (Hebrews 12:26-27), pointing to the final establishment of God's kingdom.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Asaph
The author of Psalm 77, Asaph was a prominent Levite musician appointed by King David to lead worship in the tabernacle. His psalms often reflect deep emotional struggles and a search for understanding God's ways.

2. Whirlwind
A powerful natural phenomenon often used in the Bible to symbolize God's presence and power. It represents the divine intervention and the awe-inspiring nature of God's actions.

3. Lightning
A natural element that signifies God's majesty and the illumination of His truth. It is often associated with divine revelation and judgment.

4. Earthquake
A symbol of God's power and the shaking of the foundations of the earth, often used to demonstrate God's ability to disrupt the natural order to fulfill His purposes.

5. The World
Represents the entirety of creation, which is subject to God's sovereign control and power.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereign Power
The imagery of thunder, lightning, and earthquakes in Psalm 77:18 reminds us of God's unmatched power and control over creation. We should live with a reverent fear of the Lord, acknowledging His authority in our lives.

Divine Revelation
Just as lightning illuminates the world, God's word and presence bring light to our lives. We should seek His guidance and wisdom through Scripture and prayer, allowing His truth to illuminate our paths.

God's Presence in Trials
The psalmist's depiction of natural phenomena reflects God's presence in tumultuous times. We can find comfort in knowing that God is with us during life's storms, working through them for our good and His glory.

Awe and Worship
The powerful imagery in this verse calls us to worship God with awe and wonder. Our worship should reflect the majesty and holiness of the Creator, who commands the forces of nature.

Trust in God's Control
When the world around us seems chaotic, we can trust in God's sovereign control. He is the same God who commands the whirlwind and calms the storm, and He is faithful to His promises.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of thunder, lightning, and earthquakes in Psalm 77:18 enhance your understanding of God's power and presence?

2. In what ways can you seek God's illumination in your life, similar to how lightning lights up the world?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's presence during a personal "storm." How did it impact your faith and trust in Him?

4. How can the awe-inspiring nature of God's creation lead you to a deeper sense of worship and reverence?

5. What steps can you take to remind yourself of God's sovereign control when facing uncertainty or fear? Consider other scriptures that reinforce this truth.
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 19:16-19
This passage describes the events at Mount Sinai, where God's presence was accompanied by thunder, lightning, and an earthquake, similar to the imagery in Psalm 77:18. It highlights God's holiness and the fearsome nature of His presence.

Job 37:2-5
These verses speak of God's voice in the thunder and His wondrous works, emphasizing His incomprehensible power and majesty, akin to the themes in Psalm 77:18.

Revelation 4:5
This verse describes the throne of God surrounded by lightning and thunder, symbolizing His glory and authority, resonating with the imagery of divine power in Psalm 77:18.
Sermons
From Darkness to DawnS. Conway Psalm 77:1-20
God's Ear Open to the Cry of the NeedyJ. C. Ryle.Psalm 77:1-20
The Faculty of Human ThoughtHomilistPsalm 77:1-20
People
Aaron, Asaph, Jacob, Jeduthun, Joseph, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Crash, Flaming, Heaven, Lighted, Lightened, Lightning, Lightnings, Lit, Quaked, Rolling, Shaketh, Shaking, Shook, Spheres, Storm, Thunder, Trembled, Troubled, Voice, Whirlwind, Yea
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 77:18

     1454   theophany
     4203   earth, the
     4820   earthquake
     4838   lightning
     4858   whirlwind

Psalm 77:10-20

     8724   doubt, dealing with

Psalm 77:14-20

     1315   God, as redeemer

Psalm 77:16-18

     4272   sky

Psalm 77:17-18

     4852   thunder

Library
June the Eleventh the Path Across the Sea
"Thy way is in the sea." --PSALM lxxvii. 11-20. And the sea appears to be the most trackless of worlds! The sea is the very symbol of mystery, the grim dwelling-house of innumerable things that have been lost. But God's way moves here and there across this trackless wild. God is never lost among our mysteries. He knows his way about. When we are bewildered He sees the road, and He sees the end even from the beginning. Even the sea, in every part of it, is the Lord's highway. When His way is in …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

A Question for a Questioner
The question which makes our text is meant to end other questions. You may carry truth as far as ever you like, and it will always be truth. Truth is like those crystals which, when split up into the smallest possible fragments, still retain their natural form. You may break truth in pieces, you may do what you like with it, and it is truth throughout; but error is diverse within itself, and evermore bears its own death within itself. You can see its falsehood even in its own light. Bring it forward, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 31: 1885

Ere Another Step I Take
"I commune with mine own heart." -- Psalm 77:6. Ere another step I take In my wilful wandering way, Still I have a choice to make -- Shall I alter while I may? Patient love is waiting still In my Savior's heart for me; Love to bend my froward will, Love to make me really free. Far from Him, what can I gain? Want and shame, and bondage vile -- Better far to bear the pain Of His yoke a little while. Soon I might its comfort find; Soon my thankful heart might cry, "In Thy meek obedient mind, As …
Miss A. L. Waring—Hymns and Meditations

Despondency Self-Corrected. --Ps. Lxxvii.
Despondency Self-Corrected.--Ps. lxxvii. In time of tribulation, Hear, Lord, my feeble cries, With humble supplication To Thee my spirit flies: My heart with grief is breaking, Scarce can my voice complain; Mine eyes, with tears kept waking, Still watch and weep in vain. The days of old, in vision, Bring vanish'd bliss to view; The years of lost fruition Their joys in pangs renew; Remember'd songs of gladness, Through night's lone silence brought, Strike notes of deeper sadness, And stir desponding …
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns

A Path in the Sea
'And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 20. And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. 21. And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

How the Whole and the Sick are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 13.) Differently to be admonished are the whole and the sick. For the whole are to be admonished that they employ the health of the body to the health of the soul: lest, if they turn the grace of granted soundness to the use of iniquity, they be made worse by the gift, and afterwards merit the severer punishments, in that they fear not now to use amiss the more bountiful gifts of God. The whole are to be admonished that they despise not the opportunity of winning health for ever. …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Letter iii (A. D. 1131) to Bruno, Archbishop Elect of Cologne
To Bruno, [8] Archbishop Elect of Cologne Bernard having been consulted by Bruno as to whether he ought to accept the See of Cologne, so replies as to hold him in suspense, and render him in awe of the burden of so great a charge. He advises him to seek counsel of God in prayer. 1. You seek counsel from me, most illustrious Bruno, as to whether you ought to accept the Episcopate, to which it is desired to advance you. What mortal can presume to decide this for you? If God calls you, who can dare …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Letter Xlii to the Illustrious Youth, Geoffrey De Perrone, and his Comrades.
To the Illustrious Youth, Geoffrey de Perrone, and His Comrades. He pronounces the youths noble because they purpose to lead the religious life, and exhorts them to perseverance. To his beloved sons, Geoffrey and his companions, Bernard, called Abbot of Clairvaux, wishes the spirit of counsel and strength. 1. The news of your conversion that has got abroad is edifying many, nay, is making glad the whole Church of God, so that The heavens rejoice and the earth is glad (Ps. xcvi. 11), and every tongue …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Joy
'The fruit of the Spirit is joy.' Gal 5:52. The third fruit of justification, adoption, and sanctification, is joy in the Holy Ghost. Joy is setting the soul upon the top of a pinnacle - it is the cream of the sincere milk of the word. Spiritual joy is a sweet and delightful passion, arising from the apprehension and feeling of some good, whereby the soul is supported under present troubles, and fenced against future fear. I. It is a delightful passion. It is contrary to sorrow, which is a perturbation …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Prayer
But I give myself unto prayer.' Psa 109: 4. I shall not here expatiate upon prayer, as it will be considered more fully in the Lord's prayer. It is one thing to pray, and another thing to be given to prayer: he who prays frequently, is said to be given to prayer; as he who often distributes alms, is said to be given to charity. Prayer is a glorious ordinance, it is the soul's trading with heaven. God comes down to us by his Spirit, and we go up to him by prayer. What is prayer? It is an offering …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Covenant Duties.
It is here proposed to show, that every incumbent duty ought, in suitable circumstances, to be engaged to in the exercise of Covenanting. The law and covenant of God are co-extensive; and what is enjoined in the one is confirmed in the other. The proposals of that Covenant include its promises and its duties. The former are made and fulfilled by its glorious Originator; the latter are enjoined and obligatory on man. The duties of that Covenant are God's law; and the demands of the law are all made …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

The Early Life of Malachy. Having Been Admitted to Holy Orders He Associates with Malchus
[Sidenote: 1095.] 1. Our Malachy, born in Ireland,[134] of a barbarous people, was brought up there, and there received his education. But from the barbarism of his birth he contracted no taint, any more than the fishes of the sea from their native salt. But how delightful to reflect, that uncultured barbarism should have produced for us so worthy[135] a fellow-citizen with the saints and member of the household of God.[136] He who brings honey out of the rock and oil out of the flinty rock[137] …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

Of Faith. The Definition of It. Its Peculiar Properties.
1. A brief recapitulation of the leading points of the whole discussion. The scope of this chapter. The necessity of the doctrine of faith. This doctrine obscured by the Schoolmen, who make God the object of faith, without referring to Christ. The Schoolmen refuted by various passages. 2. The dogma of implicit faith refuted. It destroys faith, which consists in a knowledge of the divine will. What this will is, and how necessary the knowledge of it. 3. Many things are and will continue to be implicitly …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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