WHEN IT DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER--PSALM 88
Introduction:
This is the eleventh of the thirteen “Maschill” Psalms. In an earlier lesson I showed that “Maschill” means instruction. This is thirteenth of the Instruction Psalms. This Psalm is like no other chapter in all the Bible. It is a Song of Sorrow. It is a Psalm of Sadness. It is, without a doubt, the darkness and sadness of all the Psalms. When we read the Psalms we notice that many Psalms speak of sadness but end with singing. Many Psalms begin with gloom and end with gladness, sorrow and shouting, tears and triumph. This Psalm however begins with distress and then the gloom increases as it proceeds. Notice that the last word is darkness. It is one wail of sorrow from beginning to end. It is the only Psalm which we see a poured out heart does not receive relief and consolation.
There is no indication of the time and writer of this Psalm. There are many ideas as to who “Heman the Ezehite” found in the title might be. Most believe that he is the penman of this Psalm. In the Old Testament we have reference to two “Hemans”. The first is mentioned in I Kings 4:31 and in I Chronicles 2:6. He was a brother of Ethan, and one of the five sons of Zerah, the sons of Judah. This Heman was known for his great wisdom. The there was a “Heman” in David’s day, who was the grandson of Samuel, the Prophet. He was called “the singer” and was one of the three chief musicians during David’s reign ( I Chronicles 15:17-19). In all probability it was the latter because he was associated with music, however, either of the two could have been the penman of this Psalm. Whoever wrote this Psalm must have been a man of Deep experience. He knew what it was like to face trials, troubles and tribulation alone.
This is a Psalm that would fall in the category of “Strong Meat” as the Apostle Paul said it. It is intended for those who have grown in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. It is for the spiritually mature.
I. THE PSALMIST CRY -- VS. 1-3, 13
A. The Purpose for his Prayer
1. This is the cry of distress and yet his Distresss gives him a Desire to pray.
2. Evil is transformed into good when it drives us to prayer.
3. A old preacher said one time, “The Devil has driven me to my knees and he will regret that.”
B. The Procedure of his Prayer
1. It was Personal -- “God of my Salvation.”
2. It was Passionate -- “I have cried”
3. It was Prolonged -- “Day and Night”
C. The Persistance of his Prayer
1. There is a tone of confidence in his prayer. As bad as things are with him, he is not without hope.
2. Evidently he had experienced the truth of Hebrews 11:6, which says, “....for he that cometh to God must
believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
3. Since his affliction would not let him rest, he took the restless nights as an opportunity to spend that time in
prayer.
4. Jesus said in Luke 18:1 “...that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”
5. Paul admonishes the Thessalonians to, “Pray without ceasing.” I Thessalonians 5:17
6. Time is definitely not wasted when used in seeking the Lord in prayer.
D. The Prospect of his Prayer - vs. 2
1. The Psalmist’s appeal was intended to reach the ear and move the heart of God.
2. He was praying expecting an answer.
3. Why even pray if you do not expect an answer?
a. This could be the very reason we do not get our answer!!!
b. How many times to we pray in routine, just speaking words without really having the faith it takes to receive an answer.
E. The Pleading in his Prayer - vs. 3
1. In this verse he pleads the urgency of his need.
2. There is no trouble so severe as that of the soul.
3. The most trying anquish is not that of the body, but that of the spirit.
a. He has no Peace
b. He has no Joy
c. He has no Song in his heart.
d. I believe a child of God can weather any storm as long as the God of peace is real in their life.
4. Notice that his troubles were many because his soul, was full of troubles.
F. The Patience of his Prayers - vs. 13
1. While there is life, there is hope. The Psalmist is not only consistant, but also persistant in his prayer.
2. A Hypocrite prays in spurts, but a genuine believe is patient and holds on till the answer comes.
3. Notice the word prevent here is interesting.
a. It is one of those old English words that has changed its meaning down through the years.
b. We find the same word used in I Thessalonians 4:15
c. We use this word to mean “to hinder,” but not so then.
d. In I Thessalonians it means “to precede” while in Psalm 88 it means to “come before”
e. Verse 13 “shall my prayer prevent (come before) thee.”
4. Someone said, “The best prayer meetings are held early in the morning.” A profitable study would be made if
you went through the Bible and marked those who met God in the morning.
II. THE PSALMIST CONDITION - VS. 4-7
A. His Calling in Vain
1. In these verse he pictures his helplessness.
b. He feels that God has not heard him.
a. If God had heard his prayers why would God be putting more on him.
2. His Condition is so grave that men reckoned him among the dead.
3. He felt that unless he obtained relief soon, he would die.
4. It is a sad case when our only hope lies in the direction of death.
B. His Clouded View
1. In verse 6 and 7 it seems that the Psalmist feels that God himself has smitten him.
2. He feels that God has brought on the Afflictions. Notice the words “Thou” and “Thy”.
3. He tells how things appeared to him:
a. Extreme -- “Laid my in the lowest pit.”
b. Unexplainable -- “In darkness.”
c. Humiliating -- “In the deeps.”
d. Severe -- “Thy wrath lieth hard.”
4. His view of things seems to be clouded.
a. Many times we don’t see troubles clearly when we are in the midst of them.
b. Sometimes it takes years to understand.
c. There are somethings that we will never understand until we see him face to face.
5. God’s ways are not our ways. Remember:
a. God never places a Joseph in a pit without drawing him up again to fill the Palace
b. God never cast even a Jonah into the deep without preparing the means to bring him safely on dry land.
c. God never places a Daniel into the den of lions without later throwing a rope down to hoist him out.
d. God never cast three Hebrews Boys into the Fiery Furnace without providing a Fourth Man to walk in the
fire with them.
e. God never leads his People out of Egypt without leading them into Canaan.
f. God never leads a Moses out to the dead end of a Red Sea without having him “Stand still and see the Salvation of the Lord.”
g. God never lets a David stand before a 9 foot giant without having five stones of grace ready to knock him down.
h. God never puts a Joshua in front of a Jericho Wall without giving the Power to watch them fall.
i. God never puts a Noah in the Flood without his protecting hand to guide them safe to land.
j. God never lets a Paul have a thorn in the side without telling him “my grace is sufficient for thee.”
k. God never lets a John be exiled on an Island without showing him a glimpse of what’s going to be hereafter.
l. God never leads an Elijah to stand alone against 850 prophets of the Devil without letting the Fire Fall.
m. God never sends 1,000 Philistines without Giving a Samson the jawbone of an ass.
n. God never lets a Job lose everything he has without giving him double in return.
o. God never lets a Ruth lose a husband without giving her a Boaz with handfuls of purpose.
p. God never tells a Gideon to cut his Army to 300 without fighting the Battle for him.
q. God never gives a woman an issue of blood without letting her touch the Hem of his Garment.
r. God never leads an Abraham to the top of Mount Moriah without providing himself a Lamb.
s. God never lets a Peter fall without giving him a second chance to preach 50 days later and see 3,000 saved.
t. God never lets a Steven be stoned to death without having one stand at the right hand side of the Father to welcome him home.
6. You will never understand all that God does and how he leads, but you can rest assured that he is faithful to
his Children.
III. THE PSALMIST CUT OFF - VS. 8-9
A. In time of suffering and sorrow the presence and sympathy of a friend are very precious and helpful.
B. But in his great affliction he is cut off and forsaken by his friends.
C. It would seem that he is suffering from some infectious or defiling disease.
1. The word “abomination” implies uncleaness.
2. Evidently the Psalmist was afflicted with leprosy.
D. True Friendships are as rare as they are precious.
1. Prosperity attracts a large number of “so-called” friends, but adversity tests them, and sometimes all fail in the
trial, as did those of the Psalmist.
2. Just picture the Psalmist.
a. He is banished from home, friends, and the Temple worship.
b. On top of this he senses the displeasure of God in his life.
c. He is afflicted physically, mentally and spiritually.
E. Through all of this he does not become bitter.
F. Instead of pouting he turns more earnestly to God and says, “...Lord I have called daily upon thee, I have
stretched out my hands unto thee.”
G. He is saying, “ I have prayed now your will be done.”
IV. THE PSALMIST CONCLUSION - VS. 14-18
A. He is Deserted -- vs. 14
1. Abandoned be friends and acquaintances, the Psalmist also feels deserted by God.
2. “Why” is never the best question from the lips of a child of God.
3. The Lord always has a reason for every affliction or trial.
4. “What” is a better question.
a. God is always seeking to teach his children lessons, and some can only be learned in times of trouble.
b. It may seem that God has actually abandoned us, but this is never the case.
c. Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye
have: for he hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
d. With this promise the child of God should never doubt God’s presence.
B. He is Destracted -- vs. 15
1. The word destracted here means that the Psalmist has conflicting emotions.
2. He was having trouble sorting out his thoughts.
3. His affliction had lasted so long that he was having trouble remembering where and how it began.
4. Keep in mind that by divine grace a lifelong sickness can prove to be a lifelong blessing.
5. Blind Bartimaeus could testify to this fact.
6. The great songwriter Fanny Crosby was ask one time if she regreted being blind from birth. She replied, “it is
not a burden but a blessing, because the first sight I will ever see is the face of my dear Saviour.”
C. He is in Darkness -- vs. 16-18
1. He Pictures God’s wrath as breaking over him as waves over a wrecked vessel.
2. Then he state that his griefs have hemmed him in like an animal in the hunt when the dogs are all around and
ready to close in for the kill.
3. Then he closes by once again pointing out the fact of his loneliness.
CONCLUSION: Acquaintances may be many, but friends are few. Those who truly love and care for us are fewer still. But let us remember that the darkest hour is just before dawn, and so, when trials are sore, let us trust the more. When we are afflicted there should be Confession of Sin, not Censure of the Saviour.
