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Psalm 77 · a question people ask

Is it wrong to ask God questions like "Has God forgotten to be gracious?" (77:9)

In the text

The psalm doesn't say. It gives the questions whole (77:7-9), and it doesn't say whether asking them was right or wrong. It doesn't answer them with a yes or a no either. What it does next is remember: "I will remember the LORD’s deeds" (77:11). Other psalms put questions of the same kind to God: "How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?" (Psalm 13:1), "Why have you forgotten me?" (Psalm 42:9), and "God, why have you rejected us forever?" (Psalm 74:1). These notes don't answer its questions for it, and don't say whether asking them was right.

The verses

““Will the Lord reject us forever? Will he be favorable no more? Has his loving kindness vanished forever? Does his promise fail for generations? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he, in anger, withheld his compassion?” Selah.”
Psalm 77:7-9 · World English Bible
“I will remember the LORD’s deeds; for I will remember your wonders of old.”
Psalm 77:11 · World English Bible
“For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”
Psalm 13:1 · World English Bible
“I will ask God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?””
Psalm 42:9 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Psalm 77

Psalm 77: Your way through the sea

Psalm 77's "I complain" (77:3) and "consider" (77:12) are one Hebrew word: the same word is his complaint and then his considering of God's doings. His questions (77:8-9) ask in the Hebrew words and roots of Exodus 34:6's "merciful and gracious God, slow to anger" (Exodus 34:6). And from 77:13 on, the psalm speaks in the Hebrew words of the song at the sea (Exodus 15).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions