Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 77:7-9

"Will the Lord cast off for ever? And will he be favorable no more? Is his lovingkindness clean gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah" — Psalms 77:7-9 (ASV)

The self-questionings here follow as they rise sigh after sigh in the poet’s heart. God’s silences have always been more appalling to the human spirit than even the most terrible of His manifestations.

To the pious Israelite, to whom the past history of his people appeared as one scene of timely interventions to save at the moment when distress became too intolerable, it seemed as if divine protection was altogether withdrawn when the misery was protracted and the sign of help withheld.