Psalm 88:18 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 88:10-18

In these verses, I. The psalmist expostulates with God concerning the present deplorable condition he was in (Ps. 88:10-12): ?Wilt thou do a miraculous work to the dead, and raise them to life again? Shall those that are dead and buried rise up to praise thee? No; they leave it to their children to rise up in their room to praise God; none expects that they should do it; and wherefore should they rise, wherefore should they live, but to praise God? The life we are born to at first, and the... 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 88:18

Lover and friend - I have no comfort, and neither friend nor neiphbour to sympathize with me. Mine acquaintance into darkness - All have forsaken me; or מחשך מידעי meyuddai machsach , "Darkness is my companion." Perhaps he may refer to the death of his acquaintances; all were gone; there was none left to console him! That man has a dismal lot who has outlived all his old friends and acquaintances; well may such complain. In the removal of their friends they see little else than the... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:1-18

Light in the darkness. This is the darkest, saddest psalm of all the Psalms. I. A PICTURE OF THE MOST DESPAIRING MISERY . Scarcely possible to think that such unalleviated misery ever existed. 1 . Utter physical and mental weakness and prostration. (Verse 6.) As good as dead. 2 . Utterly forsaken of all his friends. (Verses 8, 18.) And God had put them from him. 3 . Cast off from God, by reason of is wrath. (Verses 7, 14, 15, 16.) He is abandoned utterly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:18

Lover and friend hast thou put far from me (comp. Psalms 88:8 and Job 19:13 ). And mine acquaintance into darkness ; literally, and my intimates [ are ] darkness ; i.e. "when I look for a friend or an acquaintance, my eye meets nothing but darkness," or "dark space." read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:18

Lover and friend hast thou put far from me - That is, Thou hast so afflicted me that they have forsaken me. Those who professed to love me, and whom I loved - those whom I regarded as my friends, and who seemed to be my friends - are now wholly turned away from me, and I am left to suffer alone. See the notes at Psalms 88:8.And mine acquaintance into darkness - The Septuagint and the Latin Vulgate render this, “my acquaintance from my misery.” Luther, “Thou hast caused my friends and neighbors,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 88:13-18

Psalms 88:13-18. In the morning shall my prayer prevent thee That is, shall be offered to thee early, before the ordinary time of morning prayer, or before the dawning of the day, or the rising of the sun. The sense is, Though I have hitherto got no answer to my prayers, yet I will not give over praying and hoping for an answer. Why hidest thou thy face from me? This proceeding seems not to agree with the benignity of thy nature, nor with the manner of thy dealing with thy people. I am... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 88:1-18

Psalms 88:0 Darkness and despairOvercome with trials and seeing no way out of the situation, the writer prays desperately to God (1-2). He sees himself as being close to death, with no way of being rescued (3-5). He feels as if he has been left to die by both God and friends (6-8). He wants to experience God’s saving power now, while he is still alive, for it will be too late when he is dead (9-12).Looking back, the writer sees that all his life he has had nothing but suffering, yet God still... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 88:10-18

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 88:18

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:18

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 88:13-18

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 88:1-18

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