Psalm Chapter 88

Commentary

I Have Cried Day and Night Before You

1{A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.} O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:

2Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;

3For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.

4I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:

5Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.

6Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.

7Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.

8Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.

9Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.

10Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.

11Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?

12Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.

14LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?

15I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.

16Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.

17They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.

18Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

I Cry Out before You

1 A Song. A Psalm by the sons of Korah. For the Chief Musician. To the tune of “The Suffering of Affliction.” A contemplation by Heman, the Ezrahite. Yahweh, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before you.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18 You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.

I Cry Out before You

A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. a A Maskil b of Heman the Ezrahite.

1O LORD, the God of my salvation,

day and night I cry out before You.

2 May my prayer come before You;

incline Your ear to my cry.

3 For my soul is full of troubles,

and my life draws near to Sheol.

4 I am counted among those descending to the Pit.

I am like a man without strength.

5 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.

6 You have laid me in the lowest Pit,

in the darkest of the depths.

7 Your wrath weighs heavily upon me;

all Your waves have submerged me.

Selah

8 You have removed my friends from me;

You have made me repulsive to them;

I am confined and cannot escape.

9 My eyes grow dim with grief.

I call to You daily, O LORD;

I spread out my hands to You.

10 Do You work wonders for the dead?

Do departed spirits rise up to praise You?

Selah

11 Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave,

Your faithfulness in Abaddon c?

12 Will Your wonders be known in the darkness,

or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

13 But to You, O LORD, I cry for help;

in the morning my prayer comes before You.

14 Why, O LORD, do You reject me?

Why do You hide Your face from me?

15 From my youth I was afflicted and near death.

I have borne Your terrors; I am in despair.

16 Your wrath has swept over me;

Your terrors have destroyed me.

17 All day long they engulf me like water;

they enclose me on every side.

18 You have removed my beloved and my friend;

darkness is my closest companion.

 

Footnotes:

1 a Mahalath Leannoth  is probably a musical or liturgical term; see also Psalm 53:1.
1 b Maskil  is probably a musical or liturgical term; used for Psalms 32, 42, 44–45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88–89, and 142.
11 c Abaddon  means Destruction .

I Have Cried Day and Night Before You

1A Song, a Psalm, by sons of Korah, to the Overseer, 'Concerning the Sickness of Afflictions.' -- An instruction, by Heman the Ezrahite. O Jehovah, God of my salvation, Daily I have cried, nightly before Thee,

2My prayer cometh in before Thee, Incline Thine ear to my loud cry,

3For my soul hath been full of evils, And my life hath come to Sheol.

4I have been reckoned with those going down to the pit, I have been as a man without strength.

5Among the dead -- free, As pierced ones lying in the grave, Whom Thou hast not remembered any more, Yea, they by Thy hand have been cut off.

6Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths.

7Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And with all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. Selah.

8Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me, Thou hast made me an abomination to them, Shut up -- I go not forth.

9Mine eye hath grieved because of affliction, I called Thee, O Jehovah, all the day, I have spread out unto Thee my hands.

10To the dead dost Thou do wonders? Do Rephaim rise? do they thank Thee? Selah.

11Is Thy kindness recounted in the grave? Thy faithfulness in destruction?

12Are Thy wonders known in the darkness? And Thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13And I, unto Thee, O Jehovah, I have cried, And in the morning doth my prayer come before Thee.

14Why, O Jehovah, castest Thou off my soul? Thou hidest Thy face from me.

15I am afflicted, and expiring from youth, I have borne Thy terrors -- I pine away.

16Over me hath Thy wrath passed, Thy terrors have cut me off,

17They have surrounded me as waters all the day, They have gone round against me together,

18Thou hast put far from me lover and friend, Mine acquaintance is the place of darkness!

The F.O.G Commentary:

What is the meaning of Psalm 88?

Introduction to Psalm 88

Psalm 88 stands as the darkest psalm in the entire Psalter, unique in its unrelenting expression of despair and abandonment. Written by Heman the Ezrahite, a renowned wise man of ancient Israel, this psalm plumbs the depths of human suffering while maintaining an unwavering orientation toward God. Unlike other laments that typically transition to praise, this psalm remains in the shadows from beginning to end, making it particularly relevant for believers experiencing prolonged seasons of darkness.

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The psalm’s raw honesty and persistent faith amid seeming divine silence offers profound comfort to those struggling with depression, chronic illness, or spiritual desolation. It validates the reality that even the most faithful servants of God can experience periods of intense suffering and apparent abandonment, while simultaneously demonstrating that bringing such pain before the Lord constitutes an act of deep faith.

Context of Psalm 88

Within the Book of Psalms, this composition appears in Book III (Psalms 73-89), a collection notably concerned with communal laments and the apparent failure of the Davidic covenant. It’s paired with Psalm 89, which questions God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises, forming a powerful theological dialogue about faith in times of darkness.

The psalm’s superscription identifies it as both a “Maskil” (a contemplative or instructive psalm) and a “song,” suggesting it was intended for both personal reflection and corporate worship. This dual purpose highlights an important truth: individual suffering in the community of faith should neither be hidden nor minimized but brought into the light of corporate worship and communal lament.

In the broader biblical narrative, Psalm 88 prefigures the suffering of the Messiah, particularly His experience of abandonment on the cross. The psalm’s darkness finds its ultimate resolution not in its own verses, but in the victory of Yeshua over death and His promise to never truly forsake His people, even in their darkest hours.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • מַחֲלַת לְעַנּוֹת (Mahalath Leannoth) – This musical term in the superscription likely indicates the psalm was to be sung in a minor key, with “Leannoth” specifically suggesting affliction or humiliation. The musical setting itself thus reinforces the psalm’s themes of suffering and lament.
  • שָׁפַךְ (shafakh) – “To pour out” (Psalm 88:2) implies more than mere speaking; it suggests the complete emptying of oneself before God, holding nothing back. This same word is used for blood being poured out and for the pouring out of the soul in prayer.
  • נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh) – Appearing multiple times in the psalm, this word encompasses the entire person – body, soul, and spirit. Its use emphasizes that the psalmist’s suffering affects his entire being, not just his emotional or physical state.
  • שְׁאוֹל (Sheol) – Referenced repeatedly, this term for the place of the dead carries connotations of separation from God’s presence. The psalmist feels as though he’s already experiencing a living death through his separation from divine comfort.
  • חָפְשִׁי (chofshi) – Translated as “free” or “set aside” (Psalm 88:5), this word typically describes liberation but here paradoxically describes abandonment – free from God’s care like the dead who are forgotten.
  • אֵמֶיךָ (emecha) – “Your terrors” (Psalm 88:15) suggests not just general fears but specifically divine judgment or abandonment. The plural form intensifies the sense of overwhelming dread.
  • חֹשֶׁךְ (choshech) – “Darkness” appears as both literal and metaphorical, representing not just the absence of light but the absence of God’s perceived presence and favor.
  • מְיֻדָּע (m’yuda) – “Acquaintance” or “friend” emphasizes the social isolation accompanying the psalmist’s spiritual crisis, showing how suffering often leads to social alienation.

Compare & Contrast

  • Verse 1’s opening “O Lord, God of my salvation” is striking when contrasted with the psalm’s dark content. The choice of “salvation” (יְשׁוּעָתִי) rather than a more general divine title demonstrates that even in despair, the psalmist clings to God’s redemptive character.
  • In verse 3’s “For my soul is full of troubles,” the Hebrew צָרוֹת (troubles) could have been replaced with the more common רָעוֹת (evils). The chosen word emphasizes pressures and constraints rather than moral evil, reflecting the psalmist’s sense of being hemmed in by circumstances.
  • Verse 5’s comparison to those “cut off from your hand” uses the verb נִגְזַרְתִּי (nigzarti), which literally means “cut down” like a tree, rather than more common words for separation. This vivid imagery emphasizes the finality and violence of the perceived divine abandonment.
  • The phrase “Your wrath lies heavy upon me” in verse 7 uses כָבַד (kabad), suggesting weight and glory, rather than חָזַק (chazak) meaning strength. This wordplay suggests that even God’s seeming punishment carries His weighty glory.
  • Verse 8’s description of friends being made to shun the psalmist uses the causative form, implying God’s active role in the isolation rather than mere circumstance.
  • The question “Will you show wonders to the dead?” in verse 10 uses פֶּלֶא (pele), the same word used for God’s miraculous works in Egypt, creating a poignant contrast between past deliverance and present abandonment.
  • Verse 15’s “from my youth” (מִנֹּעַר) emphasizes lifelong suffering rather than using terms suggesting recent affliction, deepening the psalm’s pathos.
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Psalm 88 Unique Insights

The psalm’s placement as the 88th psalm carries numerical significance in Jewish thought. The number 88 in Hebrew numerology equals “pach” (פח), meaning “trap” or “snare,” perfectly capturing the psalmist’s sense of being caught in inescapable suffering. This mathematical connection would not have been lost on ancient Hebrew readers and adds another layer of meaning to the text.

The attribution to Heman the Ezrahite connects this psalm to the wisdom tradition of Israel. 1 Kings 4:31 mentions Heman as one of the wisest men of his age, second only to Solomon. That such a wise man could experience such profound darkness challenges simplistic equations of righteousness with blessing and offers hope to suffering believers that their pain doesn’t necessarily indicate spiritual failure.

Early rabbinic sources suggest this psalm was traditionally recited during times of exile and communal suffering. The Midrash Tehillim notes that the repeated phrase “day and night” links this psalm to the continuous burnt offering in the Temple, suggesting that even expressions of despair can constitute acceptable worship when directed toward God.

The unusual structure of the psalm – beginning and ending in darkness without the typical movement toward praise – may reflect the Egyptian practice of building false doors in tombs, representing the possibility of emergence from death. Similarly, the psalm’s very existence as a prayer suggests hope, as one only prays to a God they believe can answer.

Psalm 88 Connections to Yeshua

This psalm powerfully prefigures the suffering of Yeshua the Messiah, particularly His experience on the cross. The psalmist’s cry of being “counted among those who go down to the pit” (Psalm 88:4) foreshadows Yeshua’s descent into death, while the experience of God’s wrath lying heavy (Psalm 88:7) prophecies the Messiah bearing the full weight of divine judgment for sin.

The social isolation described in the psalm – friends made into shudders, acquaintances put far off – mirror’s Yeshua’s experience of abandonment by His disciples and His cry of “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). However, where the psalmist’s story ends in darkness, Yeshua’s continues through resurrection, offering hope that God can indeed “show wonders to the dead” (Psalm 88:10).

Psalm 88 Scriptural Echoes

The psalm’s imagery of waters overwhelming the soul (Psalm 88:7) echoes Jonah’s experience in the great fish (Jonah 2:3), another instance of God’s servant experiencing divine abandonment that ultimately led to deliverance. The description of being “shut in” and unable to escape (Psalm 88:8) recalls Jeremiah’s imprisonment in the cistern (Jeremiah 38:6).

The questions about God’s wonders among the dead (Psalm 88:10-12) find their answer in Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37) and ultimately in the resurrection of Yeshua. The psalm’s dark questions about divine faithfulness are picked up and explored further in Psalm 89, creating a theological dialogue about faith in times of apparent divine absence.

The experience of being “afflicted and close to death from my youth” (Psalm 88:15) connects with Job’s suffering and the broader biblical theme that righteous suffering often serves God’s greater purposes, even when those purposes remain hidden to us.

Psalm 88 Devotional

This psalm gives us permission to bring our darkest thoughts and deepest pain before God. Its inclusion in Scripture validates the reality that faith can coexist with intense suffering and doubt. When we experience seasons of darkness, we need not pretend everything is fine or force ourselves to praise; we can pour out our hearts honestly before God.

The psalm teaches us about the nature of biblical faith. True faith is not measured by feelings of God’s presence or by our ability to see His purpose in our suffering. Rather, faith is demonstrated by our continued orientation toward God even when He seems absent. The very act of lamenting to God is an expression of faith – we cry out because we believe He hears, even when we cannot sense His response.

For those walking alongside others in suffering, this psalm cautions against offering simple answers or demanding premature praise. Sometimes the most faithful response to suffering is simply to remain present with those in pain, acknowledging the reality of their experience while continuing to direct our gaze toward God together.

Did You Know

  • The superscription’s reference to “Heman the Ezrahite” connects this psalm to one of ancient Israel’s most renowned wisdom figures, showing that even the wisest can experience profound spiritual darkness.
  • This is the only psalm that begins and ends in complete darkness, without any note of hope or praise – yet its very existence as a prayer implies hope in God’s ability to hear and respond.
  • The musical notation “Mahalath Leannoth” likely indicates this was to be sung in a minor key with a mournful tone, making it one of the few psalms where we have a clear indication of its musical setting.
  • The psalm contains every Hebrew word for “darkness” found in the Old Testament, creating a comprehensive vocabulary of gloom that emphasizes the totality of the psalmist’s despair.
  • Ancient Jewish tradition assigned this psalm for recitation during the Ninth of Av, commemorating the destruction of both Temples and other national catastrophes.
  • The phrase “day and night” appears at both the beginning and end of the psalm, creating an inclusio that emphasizes the ceaseless nature of the psalmist’s suffering.
  • The psalm uses the divine name יהוה (Yahweh) seven times, the number of completion, suggesting that even in complete darkness, God’s covenant presence remains.
  • This psalm shares several verbal parallels with the book of Job, particularly in its questioning of divine justice and its expression of social isolation.
  • The description of being “set apart with the dead” uses language typically associated with lepers, suggesting a connection between physical illness, social isolation, and spiritual suffering.
  • Some early church fathers saw in this psalm a prophetic description of Christ’s descent into hell, particularly in its imagery of being “counted among those who go down to the pit.”

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Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

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