Verse 1
"To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph."
The psalm's dedication. Jeduthun was one of the chief Levite singers appointed by David; his name became a way of playing — confession and outpouring.
Verse 8
"Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?"
The first and hardest question of all. Is this abandonment forever? Will He never again be favourable? The question is asked aloud — because it, too, is part of the prayer.
Verse 9
"Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?"
The mercy that walked with every generation — has it ended? The promise to the fathers — has it failed? The question itself shows how well the heart remembers that mercy.
Verse 10
"Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah."
The peak of the questions. Grace is God's very nature — can it be forgotten? The very wording betrays the answer: it cannot be.
(Words: "Selah" — a word of pause and emphasis in the Psalms)
Verse 11
"And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High."
The turning point. The man understands: these questions were born of my own weakness — not of a change in Him. And at once he turns to the remedy: to remember the years when the right hand of the Most High did wonders.
Verse 12
"I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old."
The decision from which the song is born. Instead of sinking into the questions — remember. Memory is not an escape from the present — it is the strength to stand in it.
Verse 13
"I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings."
The heart of the chorus and the name of the song. Meditation becomes speech, and speech becomes singing. Whoever fills his mouth with the story of God's deeds — joy finds him on its own.
In one line: the hard questions of the night do not vanish — they melt before one great memory — I will remember — and meditation on His work turns into song.