Verse 1
"To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph."
Jeduthun was one of the chief Levite singers appointed by David; his name became the name of a way of playing — confession and outpouring. On it Asaph builds his psalm.
(Words: "to Jeduthun" — after the melody and manner of Jeduthun the singer)
Verse 2
"I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me."
The heart of the psalm and of the chorus. The cry repeats twice, as one who weeps repeats the same words — and at its end sits the quiet certainty: He hears.
Verse 3
"In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my hand was stretched out in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted."
A prayer that knows no pause. The hand stays stretched out all night, poured out like water — and the soul refuses all comfort. It seeks only Him.
(Words: in the Hebrew the hand is "poured out", flowing without stop)
Verse 4
"I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah."
The very memory floods the heart. He remembers God — and the moan rises by itself; he tries to speak — and his spirit wraps itself in sorrow like a man covering himself with a garment.
(Words: "overwhelmed" — in the Hebrew, wrapped in sorrow; "Selah" — a word of pause and emphasis in the Psalms)
Verse 5
"Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak."
You hold the eyelids open, and sleep does not come. And the storm inside is so great that no words are left — only the silence of a man overwhelmed.
Verse 6
"I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times."
When the present is dark, the heart goes out to memory. He reckons the days of old — the great days when God's kindness was seen — and asks: where are they now.
Verse 7
"I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search."
Once he had nights of song and melody. Now he communes with his heart alone, and his spirit searches: what has changed, and where is salvation. That very search is the beginning of the way back.
In one line: in a night without sleep and without comfort, one unbroken cry remains — my voice unto God — and with it one quiet certainty: He gives ear.