Thy wrath lieth hard upon me. Here the cause of all the psalmist's sufferings is touched; God was angry with him (comp. Psalms 88:16 ). And thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves (comp. Psalms 42:7 , "All thy waves and thy billows have gone over me"). read more
Affliction conceived as Divine wrath. "Thy wrath lieth hard upon me." The word "wrath" has now such meanings and suggestions for us, that it cannot be wisely applied to God. The Prayer book Version reads, "Thine indignation lieth hard upon me, and thou hast vexed me with all thy storms." The word "indignation" better suggests official feeling in response to wrong doing. "Wrath" suggests personal feeling. It would be well, however, if we could keep "wrath" as the Special term to... read more
Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me. Compare the similar complaint of Job ( Job 19:13 , Job 19:14 ); and see also Psalms 31:11 ; and infra, Psalms 31:18 . Thou hast made me an abomination unto them. So Job ( Job 9:31 ; Job 19:19 ; Job 30:10 ). It may be suspected that the psalmist's affliction was of a kind which made him "unclean." I am shut up. Not in prison, as Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 32:2 ; Jeremiah 33:1 ; Jeremiah 36:5 ), but probably as unclean, or as... read more
Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction; or, "mine eye hath grown feeble" (comp. Job 17:7 ). Lord, I have called daily upon thee; or, "all day." I have stretched out my hands unto thee. The attitude of earnest prayer (comp. Job 11:13 ; Psalms 68:31 , etc.). read more
Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? Am I to receive no mercy till I am dead? and then wilt thou work a miracle for my restoration and deliverance? Shall the dead arise and praise thee? rather, the shades ( rephaim ); comp. Job 26:5 . The word rephaim designates the wan, shadowy ghosts that have gone down to Hades (Sheol), and are resting there. Shall these suddenly rise up and engage in the worship and praise of God? The psalmist does not, any more than Job (xiv. 14), expect such... read more
Peerings into the future. "Wilt thou show wonders unto the dead?" "It is both curious and instructive to mark how, throughout the psalm, whether it is his own infirmity which he bewails, or the loss of friends, the mind of this wise man is straining toward the great darkness in which so many of his lovers and companions have been swallowed up, and into which he is himself about to pass. He is forever speculating on the physical and moral conditions of the world which lies in or beyond that... read more
Mournful views of death. These verses are by no means the only ones which set forth similar views. Their melancholy is very profound. See this in— I. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE HABITATION OF THE DEAD . The terms they use are all sad. As: 1 . " The pit ." ( Psalms 88:4 .) "The lowest pit" ( Psalms 88:6 ). The idea is of a vast profound subterranean cavern, into which no ray of light entered. Infernal regions indeed: 2 . " Destruction ." ( Psalms 88:11 .) A... read more
Shall thy loving kindness be declared in the grave? Wilt thou wait till I am in my grave before thou showest any mercy upon me? or, Will not that be too late? Can thy faithfulness to thy promises be shown in destruction? literally, in Abaddon ; i.e. "perdition"—a name of Sheol (of. Job 26:6 ; Job 28:22 ). read more
Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? (compare above, Psalms 88:10 ). And thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? "The land of forgetfulness," or "of oblivion," is another name for Hades, or Sheol—not that there are supposed to be no memories of the past in it ( Isaiah 14:16 , Isaiah 14:17 ), but that all is faint and shadowy there, consciousness but a half-consciousness, remembrance but a half-remembrance. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:6
Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit. The affliction whereof the psalmist complains has come direct from the hand of Cod. It is some severe stroke of illness which has brought him to his last gasp. The "lowest pit" is here metaphorical—the deepest depth of calamity. In darkness; literally, in darknesses , where no ray of thy favour shines upon me. In the deeps (comp. Psalms 69:2 , "deep waters, where the floods overflow him"). read more