Psalms 88:1

Psalms 88:1 « A Song [or] Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. » O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day [and] night before thee:

A Psalm or Song ] Psalmus totus luctuosus, a doleful ditty, beginning and ending with complaints; and therefore sung in the primitive times, among other penitential psalms, as the public confession of persons excommunicated.

Upon Mahalath Leannoth ] A musical instrument sounding heavily as a shaulm doth, and therefore called infirmity, for humbling, or for antiphenies. A fit title.

Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite ] i.e. The instruction of Heman, who was a very wise man, 1 Kings 4:31 , descended of Zerah, the son of Judah, 1 Chronicles 2:4 , and thence called the Ezrahite, brother to Ethan, who penned the next psalm, 1 Chronicles 2:6 . Nobile par fratrum.

Ver. 1. O Lord God of my salvation ] This is the only one expression of his faith found in this whole psalm, and it nmst be understood that he thus believed and prayed, as here, Psalms 88:2 , when he was at worst, and most despairingly complained.

I have cried day and night unto thee ] Though in such a state as they were, Acts 27:20 , when neither sun nor star appeared, yet he cast anchor, and prayed still for day.