Psalms 88 - Meaning, Themes & Application

" [[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 "

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

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

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

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

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

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

" Thou 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. "

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

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

Psalm 88:10 shows the writer crying out in deep despair, asking if God waits until people die to help them. He’s really saying, “If I’m …

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

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

Psalm 88:12 shows someone asking if God’s power and goodness can be seen from the grave or in total despair. It’s an honest cry: “If …

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

" LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face "

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

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

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

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