Psalm 88:1-2 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 88:1-9

It should seem, by the titles of this and the following psalm, that Heman was the penman of the one and Ethan of the other. There were two, of these names, who were sons of Zerah the son of Judah, 1 Chron. 2:4, 6. There were two others famed for wisdom, 1 Kgs. 4:31; where, to magnify Solomon's wisdom, he is said to be wiser than Heman and Ethan. Whether the Heman and Ethan who were Levites and precentors in the songs of Zion were the same we are not sure, nor which of these, nor whether any of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 88:1

O Lord God of my salvation ,.... The author both of temporal and spiritual salvation; see Psalm 18:46 from the experience the psalmist had had of the Lord's working salvation for him in times past, he is encouraged to hope that he would appear for him, and help him out of his present distress; his faith was not so low, but that amidst all his darkness and dejection he could look upon the Lord as his God, and the God of salvation to him; so our Lord Jesus Christ, when deserted by his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 88:2

Let my prayer come before thee ,.... Not before men, as hypocrites desire, but before the Lord; let it not be shut out, but be admitted; and let it come with acceptance, as it does when it ascends before God, out of the hands of the angel before the throne, perfumed with the much incense of his mediation, Revelation 8:3 , incline thine ear unto my cry ; hearken to it, receive it, and give an answer to it; Christ's prayers were attended with strong crying, and were always received and... 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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 88:1

Verse 1 1O Jehovah! God of my salvation! Let me call upon you particularly to notice what I have just now stated, that although the prophet simply, and without hyperbole, recites the agony which he suffered from the greatness of his sorrows, yet his purpose was at the same time to supply the afflicted with a form of prayer that they might not faint under any adversities, however severe, which might befall them. We will hear him by and by bursting out into vehement complaints on account of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:1

O Lord God of my salvation. This is the one "word of trust," which some get rid of by an emendation. But the Septuagint supports the existing Hebrew text; and it is in harmony with the rest of Scripture. The saints of God never despair. I have cried day and night before thee; literally, by day have I cried—by night before thee ; a trembling, gasping utterance (Kay). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:1

Personal relations with God made a plea. "O Lord God of my salvation." This has been called "the saddest of all the psalms." But it represents mental rather than spiritual distress. It belongs to such an age as that of Solomon, and classes with the Psalms of Asaph, the Book of Ecclesiastes, and the Book of Job. It is a psalm of Heman the sage; but his wisdom is spoiled by the pessimistic view he takes of his circumstances and surroundings. The man who believes in God does not see ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:1-18

Metrically, the psalm is almost without divisions—"a slow, unbroken wail," expressive of "the monotony of woe." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:1-18

The saddest psalm in the Psalter. For in well nigh all others, though there may be darkness of soul, a very night of darkness, yet we see the light arise; though we see "weeping endure for the night," yet we see also that "joy cometh in the morning." But in this psalm we do not see such coming of joy. The believer who wrote it was one who was called to "walk in darkness, and bad no light." But he is holding on; he prays, and perseveres in prayer; he recognizes the hand of God in his... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 88:1-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 88:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 88:2

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

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 88:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:1-18

Group of Brands