At the beginning of this psalm, God’s people know him; at the end, the world knows and fears him (76:1–2, 12). (Salem [76:2] is an early name for Jerusalem.) Discouraged with life’s problems, Asaph turns to God in extended prayer but finds no resolution to his troubles (77:1–2). Thinking about God seems to exacerbate his problems, causing him to lose sleep (77:3–4). Pondering the past bring…