Psalm 88:2

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 88:2

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 88:2

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

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 88:2

Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry (comp. Psalms 86:1 , Psalms 86:6 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 88:2

The fear that prayer will not be answered. With what historical conditions may we fairly associate and illustrate this psalm? Suggest—Uzziah smitten with leprosy. Jeremiah cast into the dungeon. Hezekiah humbled by sickness. Job crushed by accumulated sufferings. Probably the case of Job provides the most effective and varied illustration. When it pleases God to delay the answer, or to send the answer in unexpected forms, it is our common temptation to think that he does not mean to... read more

Albert Barnes

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 88:1-4

Psalms 88:1-4. O Lord God of my salvation Who hast so often saved me in former distresses; I have cried day and night before thee Thus God’s own elect are said, by Christ, to cry to him, Luke 18:7; and thus ought men always to pray and not to faint. Let my prayer come before thee To be accepted of thee. For my soul is full of troubles Troubles of mind, from a sense of God’s wrath and departure from him, as appears Psalms 88:14-16. I am counted with them that go down into the pit I... read more

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