Psalm 88 is a raw and emotional cry for help. It is good to know that even the writers of the Bible sometimes felt overwhelmed by life.
Structure
Psalm 88 divides into two main sections:
- Psalm 88:1-7 I Feel Like I am Dead
- Psalm 88:8-18 I Am All Alone
The first section ends with a closing "Selah" and one of only two references to water: "You overwhelm me with all Your waves."
Bookending the second section are two nearly identical verses, both of which refer to "my companions" who have shunned the author. The final verse also functions as a coda, summarizing the psalmists pain. Preceeding this is the second reference to water: "They [afflictions] surround me like a flood".
The meaningful center is found in verse 9.
my eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day I call upon you, O Lord; Psalm 88:9
The central two words of the psalm, "through sorrow", aptly summarize the emotion of the whole song.
Hear Me!
Psalm 88:1-2
This psalm is one of the darkest in the whole book of psalms. The psalmist is in great distress and pours out his anguish to God. The poet, one of the Sons of Korah, promises to continue to cry out to God day and night.
When I read a psalm like this one, I am reminded that it is OK for me to be distressed by life. This type of psalm encourages me to open up my heart to God and not to hide my anguish. God can handle my true feelings. It is OK to say, "God, I feel like I can't take anymore pain!"
Some Bible teachers give the impression that a Christian should be always happy and rejoicing. And although it is true that we should continue to rejoice (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), there simply are times in many of our lives where our pain seems overwhelming. This psalm reminds us that our feelings are normal and not evil.
I Feel Like I Am Dead
Psalm 88:3-7
Throughout this psalm the songwriter says he is close to death. It is unclear if this is because of a terminal sickness or if it is figurative, referring to great anguish. In either case, the author attributes his pain to God's hand.
It is true that Satan and others can cause us pain and suffering but only with the permission of God (see the opening to the book of Job). The psalmist recognizes that in the final analysis, God is allowing this pain and He is the only one who can give him relief.
This section ends the first half of the psalm and includes one of only two references to water: "you overwhelm me with all your waves". This reference to water will return to end the second half of the psalm.
I Am All Alone
Psalm 88:8-10
Part 2 begins and ends with the poet's sorrow at being shunned by his friends:
You have caused my companions to shun me; Psalm 88:8
You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me;
my companions have become darkness. Psalm 88:18
It is in this section that we find the meaningful center:
my eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day I call upon you, O Lord; Psalm 88:9
The psalmist is completely overwhelmed with sorrow and loneliness. His only hope is to keep calling out to God. Your life might feel hopeless but God is always there. Don't give up. Keep calling out! He will be with you in the pain.
I Can't Praise You in the Grave!
Psalm 88:11-12
This section is a little tricky theologically. It sounds like the author is saying that no one praises God after they die. He even says death is "the land of forgetfulness". What does that mean? Do we forget everything in death? Are we unable to even praise God after we die?
This section is almost certainly figurative. Jesus makes it clear that God is the God of the living and those who have died are still living in God's presence.
I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob?
He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Matthew 22:32
Jesus also told the thief on the cross that "Today you will be with Me in paradise" (Luke 23:43).
Soul sleep, the idea that our souls sleep until the resurrection, is not a normative Christian doctrine and one that contradicts Jesus' promise to the thief. Other verses that contradict soul sleep are 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:23 and the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man found in Luke 16:19-31.
So, what does this passage mean? I believe the psalmist is poetically saying that the only way he can continue to proclaim God to the world is if he is alive. Once he is dead he can no longer spread the news about God. He will be forgotten by others (in the land of forgetfulness).
When reading the psalms, it is important to remember that it is a book of poetry. Poetry makes regular use of metaphor, hyperbole and imagery. This section is simply the author using hyperbole to express his desire to once again praise God in the land of the living.
I Cry to You
Psalm 88:13-14
The psalmist continues his pleas for help. Now he adds to his complaints the question "Why?".
When we are in pain we often ask this question. "God, why are you doing this to me?"
But, just like in this psalm, God doesn't always give us a clear answer. I find this psalm comforting because the psalmist is giving us permission to voice our frustrations to God - to even question God.
I don't think God is offended by our honest questions or our honest expressions of emotional pain. That doesn't mean God will always answer, but I do think He wants us to express ourselves freely to Him. Don't be afraid to speak out honestly to God.
You Have Afflicted Me
Psalm 88:15-17
Once again, the poets expresses his helplessness in the face of his pain and accuses God of being the author of his pain.
The second part of the psalm comes to a close with a repetition of the water metaphor: God's assults are like a flood, overwhelming the psalmist.
Have you ever felt like your troubles were a flood - that the water would soon go over your head? Don't give up. Be like this psalmist and keep crying out.
I Am All Alone
Psalm 88:18
The last verse acts as coda summarizing the psalm. It closes the psalm by a final repetition of the theme of aloneness and shunning.
The author's companions, beloved and friend have all left him and even God seems to be against him. The author has come to the end of his rope.
Surprisingly, the psalm ends with no praise and no answer to the pain the author is experiencing. I actually find this strangly comforting because so often I call out to God and feel like He doesn't answer - so often I find myself left living through the pain.
The reality is that sometimes life will feel this way and I am comforted to know that the Bible acknowledges this. If you feel this way, know that you are not alone. Others feel the same way.
But also remember that God is still with you. This is not the only psalm. The story is not done. This song is done, but there are many more songs that remind us that God is good and He is with you even in the pain and suffering. He suffered for us and sometimes He invites us to join in His suffering.
Application
So, what do we do when it feels like God has turned against us? What can we do when we feel alone and rejected by God? This psalm gives us a blueprint for how to hold on.
- Keep crying out - Keep coming to God. Even though the psalmist blames God for his troubles, he still keeps coming to God day and night calling for help. Don't run from God - run to Him!
- Be honest with God. The author is not afraid to be honest with God, even to the point of blaming God and asking why. God can handle your honest prayers.
- Remember that even people in the Bible felt depressed - this is not abnormal, it is actually very common. Don't add the unnecessary guilt of believing you shouldn't feel the way you feel.
Use this psalm to remind yourself that it is OK to feel depressed when life falls apart. And then, continue to turn to God.
This post is part of a series on the Psalms.
by Jerry Wyrick, President of Worship Arts Conservatory