The Book of Psalms
Psalm 88
Psalm LXXXVIII · Vol. II, pp. 1043–1044
A prayer containing a grievous complaint.
A song or psalm for1 the sons of Korah, to the chief musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of aHeman the Ezrahite.2
1 O LORD bGod of my salvation, cI have cried day and night before thee.3
B.C. cir. 1021.
1 Or, of.
a 1 Ki.4.31. 1 Ch.25.1,4, or 2.6.
2 Or, A psalm of Heman the Ezrahite, giving instruction.
b Ps.27.1; 68.19,20. Lu.1.47. Tit.2.13,14.
c Ps.22.2; 77.2; 86.3. Lu.18.7. Ep.6.18.
3 The whole psalm is prophetical—the lamentations of Messiah (Horsley, Lightfoot); and with him alone the assertion of 'prayer without ceasing—day and night,' appears possibly to correspond.—C.
2 Letd my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
d La.3.8. Da.9.18,19. 1 Ki.8.52. Ps.141.1,2.
4 Ig am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:4
g Job 17.1. Ps.102.2-11,23; 109.22-24. 2 Co.1.9.
4 I am counted by my cruel enemies as one to be caught, like a wild beast, in a pitfall. Even so the Pharisees sought to ensnare and entangle our Lord, that they might have whereof to accuse and whereby to destroy him.—C.
5 Freeh among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave,5 whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.6
h Is.38.1,10-12. Ps.31.12; 119.83. Eze.37.11. La.3.1-16.
5 'Cast out among the dead, like the wounded on the field of battle; like them that be in the grave.'—Horsley.
6 Or, by thy hand.
8 Thouk hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination8 unto them: I lam shut up, and I cannot come forth.
k ver.18. Job 19.13-19. Ps.31.11; 142.4.
8 Even so, until this day, the very name of Jesus is an abomination to the unbelieving Jew.—C.
l Job 12.14; 36.8; 19.8. La.3.3,5,7,9. Ho.2.6.
9 Minen eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee; oI have stretched out my hands unto thee.
10 Wiltp thou show wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.
p Ps.6.5; 30.9; 115.17; 118.17. Is.38.18,19.
11 Shall thy loving-kindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?
13 Buts unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning9 shall my prayer prevent thee.
s Ps.130.1,2; 77.1; 5.1-3.
9 In the morning. In the morning of the resurrection from darkness and the land of forgetfulness, my prayer of intercession for the church shall come before thee, when I shall appear her prevailing advocate and risen head.—C.
17 Theyy came round about me daily3 like water; they compassed me about together.
y Ps.116.3; 102.10; 42.7; 69.1,2,14,15; 18.4,5; 22.12,16. La.3.3,7,9.
3 Or, all the day.
18 Loverz and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
z See ver.9. Job 10.21,22.
Notes
Ver. 7. Thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Surely in the lips of any but Messiah, upon whom 'the Lord laid the iniquities of us all,' these words would be nothing but selfish exaggeration; while in the lips of Messiah they are literally true, and are therefore to be absolutely interpreted of him alone. C.
Reflections.—How inexpressibly grievous are the afflictions of some of God's loving children! nay, of his Son! Their sorrows are enlarged. They are reduced to the very brink of despair; loaded with a sense of deep sorrow; deserted by friends; and, while their case is apparently remediless, their way lies along the road of pain. If I be cast into this depth, let me, though with a trembling heart, still claim the Lord as my God, my Saviour. Let me, with fervent cries and humble expostulations, pour out my complaints into his bosom. The more my afflictions press me, let my supplications be the more pressing and persevering. And if I wish to live longer on earth, let my great end be to serve God's interests and to show forth his praise.