Psalm 88:12

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 88:12

Shall thy wonders be known in the dark ?.... A description of the grave again; see Job 10:21 , The sense may be, should he continue in the dark and silent grave, how would the wonders of the grace of God, of electing, redeeming, justifying, pardoning, and adopting grace, be made known; the wonders of Christ's person and offices, and the wondrous things, and doctrines of the Gospel, relating thereunto? as the glory of these would be eclipsed, there would be none to publish them: and thy... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 88:12

The land of forgetfulness? - The place of separate spirits, or the invisible world. The heathens had some notion of this state. They feigned a river in the invisible world, called Lethe, Ληθη , which signifies oblivion, and that those who drank of it remembered no more any thing relative to their former state. - Animae, quibus altera fato Corpora debentur, lethaei ad fluminis undam Securos latices et longa oblivia potant 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 88:10-12

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:12

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:12

Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? - In the dark world; in “the land of darkness and the shadow of death; a land of darkness, as darkness itself, and where the light is as darkness.” Job 10:21-22. “And thy righteousness.” The justice of thy character; or, the ways in which thou dost maintain and manifest thy righteous character.In the land of forgetfulness - Of oblivion; where the memory has decayed, and where the remembrance of former things is blotted out. This is a part of the general... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 88:10-12

Psalms 88:10-12. Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? Namely, in raising them to life again in this world? No: I know thou wilt not. And therefore now hear and help me, or it will be too late. Shall the dead arise and praise thee? Namely, among mortal men in this world? Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? &c. I am not without hopes, that thou bearest a real good-will toward me, and wilt faithfully perform thy gracious promises made to me, and to all that love thee, and... read more

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