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Psalms 88

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1Yahweh, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.

2Let my prayer enter into your presence. Turn your ear to my cry.

3For my soul is full of troubles. My life draws near to Sheol.

4I am counted among those who go down into the pit. I am like a man who has no help,

5set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand.

6You have laid me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.

7Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. Selah.

8You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can't escape.

9My eyes are dim from grief. I have called on you daily, Yahweh. I have spread out my hands to you.

10Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you? Selah.

11Is your loving kindness declared in the grave? Or your faithfulness in Destruction?

12Are your wonders made known in the dark? Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13But to you, Yahweh, I have cried. In the morning, my prayer comes before you.

14Yahweh, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?

15I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up. While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted.

16Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.

17They came around me like water all day long. They completely engulfed me.

18You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness. A contemplation by Ethan, the Ezrahite.

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Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

Pastoral and devotional reflections focused on spiritual formation and application.

Psalms 88:1-9 Verses 1-9

The first words of the psalmist are the only words of comfort and support in this psalm. Thus greatly may good men be afflicted, and such dismal thoughts may they have about their afflictions, and such dark conclusion may they make about their end, through the power of melancholy and the weakness of faith. He complained most of God's displeasure. Even the children of God's love may sometimes think themselves children of wrath and no outward trouble can be so hard upon them as that. Probably the psalmist described his own case, yet he leads to Christ. Thus are we called to look unto Jesus, wounded and bruised for our iniquities. But the wrath of God poured the greatest bitterness into his cup. This weighed him down into darkness and the deep.

Psalms 88:10-18 Verses 10-18

Departed souls may declare God's faithfulness, justice, and lovingkindness; but deceased bodies can neither receive God's favours in comfort, nor return them in praise. The psalmist resolved to continue in prayer, and the more so, because deliverance did not come speedily. Though our prayers are not soon answered, yet we must not give over praying. The greater our troubles, the more earnest and serious we should be in prayer. Nothing grieves a child of God so much as losing sight of him; nor is there any thing he so much dreads as God's casting off his soul. If the sun be clouded, that darkens the earth; but if the sun should leave the earth, what a dungeon would it be! Even those designed for God's favours, may for a time suffer his terrors. See how deep those terrors wounded the psalmist. If friends are put far from us by providences, or death, we have reason to look upon it as affliction. Such was the calamitous state of a good man. But the pleas here used were peculiarly suited to Christ. And we are not to think that the holy Jesus suffered for us only at Gethsemane and on Calvary. His whole life was labour and sorrow; he was afflicted as never man was, from his youth up. He was prepared for that death of which he tasted through life. No man could share in the sufferings by which other men were to be redeemed. All forsook him, and fled. Oftentimes, blessed Jesus, do we forsake thee; but do not forsake us, O take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary

Historical, contextual, and verse-level study notes for deeper biblical exploration.

Psalms 88:1-2 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

Compare on the terms used, Ps 22:2; 31:2.

Psalms 88:1-18 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

as an accompaniment (Leannoth, "for singing") or, as others think, an enigmatic title (see on Ps 5:1, Ps 22:1, and Ps 45:1, titles), denoting the subject--that is, "sickness or disease, for humbling," the idea of spiritual maladies being often represented by disease (compare Ps 6:5, 6; 22:14, 15, &c.). On the other terms, see on Ps 42:1 and Ps 32:1. Heman and Ethan (see on Ps 89:1, title) were David's singers (1Ch 6:18, 33; 15:17), of the family of Kohath. If the persons alluded to (1Ki 4:31; 1Ch 2:6), they were probably adopted into the tribe of Judah. Though called a song, which usually implies joy (Ps 83:1), both the style and matter of the Psalm are very despondent; yet the appeals to God evince faith, and we may suppose that the word "song" might be extended to such compositions.

Psalms 88:3 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

grave--literally, "hell" (Ps 16:10), death in wide sense.

Psalms 88:4 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

go ... pit--of destruction (Ps 28:1). as a man--literally, "a stout man," whose strength is utterly gone.

Psalms 88:5 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

Free ... dead--Cut off from God's care, as are the slain, who, falling under His wrath, are left, no longer sustained by His hand.

Psalms 88:6 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

Similar figures for distress in Ps 63:9; 69:3.

Psalms 88:7 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

Compare Ps 38:2, on first, and Ps 42:7, on last clause.

Psalms 88:8 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

Both cut off from sympathy and made hateful to friends (Ps 31:11).

Psalms 88:9 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

Mine eye mourneth--literally, "decays," or fails, denoting exhaustion (Ps 6:7; 31:9). I ... called--(Ps 86:5, 7). stretched out--for help (Ps 44:20).

Psalms 88:10 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

shall the dead--the remains of ghosts. arise--literally, "rise up," that is, as dead persons.

Psalms 88:11-12 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

amplify the foregoing, the whole purport (as Ps 6:5) being to contrast death and life as seasons for praising God.

Psalms 88:13 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

prevent--meet--that is, he will diligently come before God for help (Ps 18:41).

Psalms 88:14 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

On the terms (Ps 27:9; 74:1; 77:7).

Psalms 88:15 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

from ... youth up--all my life.

Psalms 88:16-17 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

the extremes of anguish and despair are depicted.

Psalms 88:18 Upon Mahalath--either an instrument, as a lute, to be used

into darkness--Better omit "into"--"mine acquaintances (are) darkness," the gloom of death, &c. (Job 17:13, 14). PSALM 89

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Key Words and Topics

These study connections are drawn from the internal BSB concordance and topical index imported into Daily Bread Intake.

Related Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Dispensation of God Psalm 88:6, 7, 16

You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths. / Your wrath weighs heavily upon me; all Your waves have submerged me. Selah / Your wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me.

Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Psalm 88:9–14

My eyes grow dim with grief. I call to You daily, O LORD; I spread out my hands to You. / Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You? Selah / Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon?

Afflictions and Adversities: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Psalm 88:3–18

For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. / I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength. / I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care.

Dead (People): Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Psalm 88:10–12

Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You? Selah / Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? / Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

Death: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Psalm 88:9–14

My eyes grow dim with grief. I call to You daily, O LORD; I spread out my hands to You. / Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You? Selah / Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon?

Friendship: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 88:8, 18

You have removed my friends from me; You have made me repulsive to them; I am confined and cannot escape. / You have removed my beloved and my friend; darkness is my closest companion.

God: Righteousness of Psalm 88:12

Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

God: Saviour Psalm 88:1

A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You.

Hades: The Realm (State) of the Dead Psalm 88:10–12

Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You? Selah / Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? / Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

Prayer: Importunity In Psalm 88:1, 2, 9, 13

A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You. / May my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry. / My eyes grow dim with grief. I call to You daily, O LORD; I spread out my hands to You.

Prayer: Twice Daily Psalm 88:1

A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You.

Private Prayer: should be offered: Day and Night Psalm 88:1

A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You.

Psalms: Afflictions Psalm 88:1

A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You.

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Bible Dictionary

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Righteousness See [535]JUSTIFICATION. Salvation This word is used of the deliverance of the Israelites… Ezrahite A title given to Ethan (1 Kings 4:31; Ps. 89,… Mahalath A lute; lyre. (1.) The daughter of Ishmael, and third… Leannoth For answering; i.e., in singing, occurs in the title to… Darkness The plague (the ninth) of darkness in Egypt (Ex. 10:21)… Abaddon Destruction, the Hebrew name (equivalent to the Greek Apollyon, i.e.,… Prayer Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with… Grave Among the ancient Hebrews graves were outside of cities in… Sheol (Heb., "the all-demanding world" = Gr. Hades, "the unknown region"),… Korah Ice, hail. (1.) The third son of Esau, by Aholibamah… Selah A word frequently found in the Book of Psalms, and… Heman Faithful. (1.) 1 Kings 4:31; 1 Chr. 2:6, a son… Death May be simply defined as the termination of life. It… Lord There are various Hebrew and Greek words so rendered. (1.)… Face Means simply presence, as when it is recorded that Adam… Call (1.) To cry for help, hence to pray (Gen. 4:26).… Life Generally of physical life (Gen. 2:7; Luke 16:25, etc.); also…