Psalms 88

This Psalm was composed upon a particular Occasion, to wit, Heman's deep distress and dejection of mind almost to despair. But though this was the occaon of it, it is of more general use for the instruction and consolation of all good men when they come into such Despondencies, and therefore was by the direction of God's Spirit made publick, and committed to the Sons of Korah.

O LORD God of my salvation Who hast so often saved me from former distresses, and, I hope, wilst do so at this time., I have cried day and night before thee.

Let my prayer come before thee, incline thine ear unto my cry.

For my soul Properly so called; for that he was under great troubles of mind from a sense of God's wrath and departure from him is evident from Verse 14. 13, 16. 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 given up by my Friends and Acquaintance for a lost man.: I am as a man that has no strength.

Free among the dead Well-nigh discharged from the warfare of the present life, and entred as a member into the society of the dead; as Israelitish servants when they were made free were thereby made Denisons of the Commonwealth of Israel. I expect no other freedom from my miseries but that which death gives, as Iob observes, Iob 3. 17, 18., like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou remembrest no more Whom thou seemest wholly to neglect and to bury in oblivion: for he speaks of these matters not as they are in truth, for he knew very well that forgetfulness was not incident to God, and that God did remember all the dead, and would call them to an account, but only as to sense and appearance and the opinion of the World, and the state and things of this life.: and they are cut off from thy hand From the care and conduct of thy providence. Which is to be understood as the former clause. Or by thy hand. But our translation seems better to agree both with the foregoing branch which it explains and improves, and with the order of the words; for it seems improper after he had represented the persons as dead, and in their graves, to add that they are cut off, to wit, by death..

Thou hast laid me in † the lowest pit, * in darkness, in the deeps Either first in the grave; the same thing being expressed in divers words, or secondly in hopeless and remediless calamities..

Thy wrath Either first the sense of thy wrath, or rather secondly the effects of it; as the next clause explains this. lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves With thy judgments, breaking in furiously upon me like the waves of the Sea.. Selah.

Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me, thou hast made me an abomination unto them I am so sad a spectacle of thy vengeance that my friends avoid and detest me, lest by conversing with me they should either be filled with terrors, which men naturally abhor; or be made partakers of my guilt or plagues.: I am shut up Either in the pit or deep mentioned, v. 6. or in my own House or Chamber, being afraid or ashamed to go abroad., 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 unto thee Understand, without effect: for thou dost not hear nor answer me..

Wilt thou show wonders to the dead To wit, in raising them to live again in this World, as it is in the next clause. I know that thou wilt not. And therefore now hear and help me, or it will be too late.? shall the dead arise and praise thee To wit, amongst mortal men in this World.! Selah.

Shall thy loving kindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction I am not without hopes that thou hast a true kindness for me, and wilt faithfully perform thy gracious promises made to me and to all that love thee and call upon thee in truth. But then this must be done speedily, or I shall be utterly uncapable of such a mercy.?

Shall thy wonders be known in the dark In the grave, which is called the land of darkness, Job 10. 21, 22.? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness In the grave so called, either first actively because there men forget and neglect all the concerns of this life, being indeed but dead carkasses without any sense or remembrance. Or rather secondly passively; because there men are forgotten, not only by men, as is noted, Iob 24. 20. Psal. 31. 12. but by God himself, as he complained, v. 5.?

But unto thee have I cryed, O LORD, and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee i. e. Early come to thee before the ordinary time of Morning Prayer, or before the dawning of the Day, or the rising of the Sun. The sense is, Though I have hitherto got no answer to my Prayers, yet I will not give over praying nor hoping for an answer..

LORD, why castest thou off my Soul? why hidest thou thy face from me This proceeding seems not to agree with the benignity of thy nature, nor with the manner of thy dealing with thy people.!

I am afflicted and ready to die, from my youth up My whole life has been filled with a succession of deadly calamities. O Lord, take some pity upon me, and let me have a little breathing space before I die.: while I suffer thy terrors Upon my mind and conscience, which do accompany and aggravate my outward miseries., I am distracted.

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

They came round about me daily, like water As the Waters of the Sea encompass him which is in the midst and bottom of it., they compassed me about together.

Lover and friend hast thou put far from me Of which see the note on v. 8., and mine acquaintance into darkness.