Psalm 88 The Saviour's Psalm
A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.
The musician and sage Heman served in Israel as a Levite, a seer, a songwriter, during the time of David and Solomon. Heman was the grandson of Samuel, and was also listed as one of three main musicians appointed by David “for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals” 1 Chron 25:1
1. The Psalmist's or Saviour's Cry
1 O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
2 let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
It's Personal - 1 O Lord God of my salvation,
It's Perpetual - I have cried day and night before thee:
It's Prudent - 2 let my prayer come before thee:
It's Petitioning - incline thine ear unto my cry;
2. The Psalmist's or Saviour's Condition
His Trouble - 3 for my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
His Trial - 4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit:
He is Forbidden - 4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit:
He is Frail - 4 I am as a man that hath no strength:
He is Free - 5 free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave,
He is Forgotten - 5 whom thou rememberest no more:
He is Forsaken - 5 and they are cut off from thy hand.
His Test -
It's Placement - 6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
It's Punishment - 7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me,
and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.
It's Predicament - 8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
His Turmoil -
His Affliction - 9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction:
His Attrition - Lord, I have called daily upon thee,
His Attention - I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
His Assumption - That God would - Hear, Heed, and Help.
3. The Psalmist's or Saviour's Call - He Calls for -
Divine Intervention - 10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead?
shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.
Direct Intervention - 11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave?
or thy faithfulness in destruction?
Distinct Intervention - 12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark?
and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
4. The Psalmist's or Saviour's Confidence
The Halt - 13 But
The Help - unto thee have I cried, O Lord;
The Hitch - and in the morning
The Hope - shall my prayer prevent thee (my prayer will come to You)
5. The Psalmist's or Saviour's Confusion
His Separation - 14 Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?
Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
His Suffering - 15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up:
while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
His Sentence - 16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.
His Slander - 17 They came round about me daily like water;
they compassed me about together.
His Seclusion - 18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me,
and mine acquaintance into darkness.
