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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 88:17

They came round about me daily like water ,.... That is, the terrors of the Lord, the sorrows of death and hell, Psalm 18:4 , this was the Messiah's case, when it was with him as is expressed Psalm 69:1 , they compassed me about together ; as waters coming from many places, from all quarters, meet together, and together surround a person or place in such circumstances was Christ, when the bulls of Bashan beset him around, and the assembly of the wicked enclosed him, and innumerable... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 88:18

Lover and friend hast thou put far from me ,.... This is mentioned in Psalm 88:8 , and is here repeated; and the account is closed with it, to show that this was a most aggravating circumstance of his affliction, and which bore exceeding hard upon him; and this must be a very uncomfortable case, to be in distress, whether of body or mind, and to have no kind friend near to yield the least help, relief, and comfort; so Christ's lovers and friends, his disciples, who loved him and he loved... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 88

The earnest prayer of a person in deep distress, abandoned by his friends and neighbors, and apparently forsaken of God, vv. 1-18. Perhaps the title of this Psalm, which is difficult enough, might be thus translated: "A Poem to be sung to the conqueror, by the sons of Korah, responsively, in behalf of a distressed person; to give instruction to Heman the Ezrahite." Kennicott says this Psalm has three titles, but the last only belongs to it; and supposes it to be the prayer of a person shut... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 88:1

O Lord God of my salvation - This is only the continuation of prayers and supplications already often sent up to the throne of grace. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 88:2

Let my prayer come before thee - It is weak and helpless, though fervent and sincere: take all hinderances out of its way, and let it have a free passage to thy throne. One of the finest thoughts in the Iliad of Homer concerns prayer; I shall transcribe a principal part of this incomparable passage - incomparable when we consider its origin: - Και γαρ τε Λιται εισι Διος κουραι μεγαλοιο,<-144 Χωλαι τε, ῥυσσαι τε, παραβλωπες τπ ' οφθαλμω·π Αἱ ῥα τε και μετοπισθπ ' Ατης... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 88:4

I am counted with them, etc. - I am as good as dead; nearly destitute of life and hope. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 88:5

Free among the dead - צפשי במתים bammethim chophshi , I rather think, means stripped among the dead. Both the fourth and fifth verses seem to allude to a field of battle: the slain and the wounded, are found scattered over the plain; the spoilers come among them, and strip, not only the dead, but those also who appear to be mortally wounded, and cannot recover, and are so feeble as not to be able to resist. Hence the psalmist says, "I am counted with them that go down into the pit; I am... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 88:7

Thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves - The figures in this verse seem to be taken from a tempest at sea. The storm is fierce, and the waves cover the ship. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 88:8

Thou hast made me an abonmination - This verse has been supposed to express the state of a leper, who, because of the infectious nature of his disease, is separated from his family - is abominable to all, and at last shut up in a separate house, whence he does not come out to mingle with society. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 88:10

Wilt thou show wonders to the dead! - מתים methim , dead men. Shall the dead - רפאים rephaim , "the manes or departed spirits." Arise and praise thee? - Any more in this life? The interrogations in this and the two following verses imply the strongest negations. read more

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