Psalm 88

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:2

Let my prayer come before thee - As if there were something which hindered it, or which had obstructed the way to the throne of grace; as if God repelled it from him, and turned away his ear, and would not hear.Incline thine ear unto my cry - See the notes at Psalms 5:1. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:3

For my soul is full of troubles - I am full of trouble. The word rendered as “full” means properly to satiate as with food; that is, when as much had been taken as could be. So he says here, that this trouble was as great as he could bear; he could sustain no more. He had reached the utmost point of endurance; he had no power to bear anymore.And my life draweth nigh unto the grave - Hebrew, to Sheol. Compare the notes at Isaiah 14:9; notes at Job 10:21-22. It may mean here either the grave, or... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:4

I am counted with them that go down into the pit - I am so near to death that I may be reckoned already as among the dead. It is so manifest to others that I must die - that my disease is mortal - that they already speak of me as dead. The word “pit” here means the grave - the same as Sheol in the previous verse. It means properly(1) a pit,(2) a cistern, Genesis 37:20,(3) a prison or dungeon, Isaiah 24:22,(4) the grave, Psalms 28:1; Psalms 30:4; Isaiah 38:18.I am as a man that hath no strength... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:5

Free among the dead - Luther renders this, “I lie forgotten among the dead.” DeWette renders it, “Pertaining to the dead - (den Todten angehorend) - stricken down, like the slain, I lie in the grave,” and explains it as meaning, “I am as good as dead.” The word rendered “free” - חפשׁי chophshı̂y - means properly, according to Gesenius (Lexicon),(1) prostrate, weak, feeble;(2) free, as opposed to a slave or a captive;(3) free from public taxes or burdens.The word is translated “free” in Exodus... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:6

Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit - That is, I am as if I were thus laid; the deep grave seems now to lie so certainly before me, that it may be spoken of as if it were already my abode. The words rendered “lowest pit” mean literally the pit under, or beneath. The reference is to the sepulchre, as in Psalms 88:4.In darkness - The dark grave; the realms of the dead. See the notes at Job 10:21-22.In the deeps - The caverns; the deep places of the earth or the sea. All these expressions are... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:7

Thy wrath lieth hard upon me - Presses me down; burdens me. The meaning is, that that which was the proper and usual expression of wrath or displeasure - to wit, bodily and mental suffering - pressed hard on him. and crushed him to the earth. These bodily sufferings he interpreted, in the sad and gloomy state of mind in which he was, as evidences of the divine displeasure against himself.And thou hast afflicted me - Thou hast oppressed me, or broken me down.With all thy waves - literally, “thy... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:8

Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me - The same ground of complaint, or expression of the depth of affliction, occurs elsewhere, Psalms 31:11; Psalms 38:11; Psalms 69:8. See also Job 19:13-17.Thou hast made me an abomination unto them - As something which they would avoid, or from which they would revolt and turn away - as we turn away from the body of a dead man, or from an offensive object. The word means properly an object to be detested or abominated, as things unclean, Genesis... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:9

Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction - I weep; my eye pours out tears. Literally, My eye pines away, or decays. Compare Job 16:20, note; Isaiah 38:3, note; Psalms 6:6, note.Lord, I have called daily upon thee - That is, I have prayed earnestly and long, but I have received no answer.I have stretched out my hands unto thee - I have spread out my hands in the attitude of prayer. The idea is that of earnest supplication. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:10

Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? - The wonders - or the things suited to excite admiration - which the living behold. Shall the dead see those things which here tend to excite reverence for thee, and which lead people to worship thee? The idea is that the dead will be cut off from all the privileges which attend the living on earth; or, that those in the grave cannot contemplate the character and the greatness of God. He urges this as a reason why he should be rescued. The sentiment here is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:11

Shall thy loving-kindness be declared in the grave? - Thy goodness; thy mercy. Shall anyone make it known there? shall it there be celebrated?Or thy faithfulness in destruction? - In the place where destruction seems to reign; where human hopes perish; where the body moulders back to dust. Shall anyone there dwell on the fidelity - the truthfulness - of God, in such a way as to honor him? It is implied here that, according to the views then entertained of the state of the dead, those things... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:11

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