The Gloomiest Chapter In The Bible – Psalm 88 – Passing Through Stormy Seas – Part 1 Series

THE GLOOMIEST CHAPTER IN THE BIBLE – PSALM 88 – PASSING THROUGH STORMY SEAS – PART 1

PSALMS OF THE SONS OF KORAH – PSALM 88 Part 1

Psalm 88 A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director - according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

Firstly we will look at the title which is a longer one.

Upon Mahalath - either an instrument, such as a lute, to be used as an accompaniment (Leannoth, "for singing") or, as others think, an mysterious title denoting the subject. The subject is "sickness or disease, for humbling," the idea of spiritual maladies being often represented by disease, in the sense that if you have deep spiritual problems, then you are quite sick. Heman and Ethan were David's singers of the family of Kohath. Though called a song, which usually implies joy (Psalm 83:1), both the style and matter of this Psalm are very despondent; yet the appeals to God evince faith, and we may suppose that the word "song" might be extended to such compositions.

A study of the psalms shows a very wide range of subject matter. We have looked at some wonderful things in these psalms of Korah, but through the psalms you fine great praise and adoration; the stating of matters relating to Israel and also its restoration; prayers to God from a troubled heart often seeking deliverance and help; prophetic psalms such as 22; psalms of protection and comfort; and a whole lot more.

Psalm 88 v 1-3 O LORD, the God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and in the night before You. Psa 88:2 Let my prayer come before You. Incline Your ear to my cry Psa 88:3 for my soul has had enough troubles and my life has drawn near to Sheol.

This is an unusual psalm, gloomy and emotional. I think I have mentioned later on that this psalm is considered the gloomiest chapter in the bible. For the critical person who says we should not look at subjects that are not joyful, I say this, “You have never been there in the midst of pain or distress in that same position the psalmist was.” The person who has never had great trauma in his or her life will never understand. Great suffering often brings great trust and reliance on a trustworthy God. The Lord may allow difficult trials and storms to bring us through to the still waters of Psalm 23.

Have you considered Psalms 22 and 69 carefully? You could say the same things about those Psalms, that they are gloomy and you don’t like reading them. Both psalms come from the anguish and suffering of the Lord on the cross and are His prayers from the cross. I think the deeper you enter into the suffering of the Lord for our sin, then the closer you will connect those psalms with their proper relevance. What we say here is that Psalm 88 is best understood by one who is passing through very stormy seas, and great conflicts in his or her life. Of course it can also apply to the backward look if you have been in the same position in the past as the psalmist was who wrote this song.

We will look at the first three verses. I might mention that in most of scripture and I think mainly in the psalms the opening verse is a sort of summary of the chapter or passage. Verse 1 is a bit awkward in translation in some versions, but what it says is that this writer was crying out to the Lord through the day, and at night, that pleading continued. That can only come from a very troubled spirit, one passing through great anguish. Let us remind ourselves how it was with the Lord - Psalm 22 v 2 “O my God, I cry by day but You do not answer, and by night, but I have no rest.” The deeper the pain and anxiety, the more frequent the crying out to God will be.

There is something of special note here. The psalmist was not crying out in an empty despair, speaking to the wind and groaning about his problems, but to the Lord. That must always be our centre whether in joy or in distress. Other comfort, there is none. Other helpers, there are none. It is to the Lord we must go and not delay, when troubles come upon us.

What are these troubles? Physical sickness, great spiritual battles against wickedness, anything which troubles the soul, failure in the Christian life or a wakeup in sin, troubles in the family, disappointment, depression in one’s spirit, and may I add, news of impending death from a doctor.