The Gloomiest Chapter In The Bible – Psalm 88 – Passing Through Stormy Seas – Part 2 Series

SERIES - PSALMS OF THE SONS OF KORAH – PSALM 88 - PART 2

THE GLOOMIEST CHAPTER IN THE BIBLE – PSALM 88 – PASSING THROUGH STORMY SEAS – PART 2

It is considered that Psalm 88 is the gloomiest chapter in the whole bible. It could be said there are no positives in the Psalm. It is never or rarely preached on, but this is one of the blessings of expository preaching where you cover the whole text or book, not just favourite passages and selective texts.

We looked at the introduction last time, the first 6 verses. Now we continue.

Psalm 88:7 Your wrath has rested upon me, and You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah. Psa 88:8 You have removed my acquaintances far from me. You have made me an object of loathing to them. I am shut up and cannot go out.

We look at these two verses that dwell on the blame attributed to God, for in the psalmist’s mind, God took actions that had made it miserable for this man. God’s wrath rested on him. God washed waves over him that caused distress and torment. God removed from him all his friends and caused them to despise him. More than that, God allowed him to become an object of hate by those once friends and companions. God has caused him to be shut up so he cannot go out. I suppose you have to use your own imagination as to why he was not able to leave his house.

Well all that is a picture of misery with not one good prospect. We would expect for the Christian, that he or she might say, “but the Lord remains with me,” or, “Please, Lord help me in this situation,” but in the whole psalm, only one verse approaches that, verse 13. These two verses are the image of misery. It’s almost too depressing, isn’t it? “God did all this to me. He really bashed me up.”

We began last time with the prayer at the start of the chapter. Look at those verses – Psalm 88:1 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.

The psalmist launched straight into prayer but it was a prayer of lament, and there is no hint what the problem was. I dare say there was one; it’s just not stated. Returning to verses 7 and 8, in those two verses is an experience many feel sometimes in their lives. “Why has God done this to me? Why has God left me?” Even, “What have I done to deserve this terrible stuff? Does God care?” There are even times we feel like that and can’t put a finger on it.

Job went through more, I dare say. He did nor curse God or blame Him. He just cursed the day of his birth. A man who gives up on God when he is in hardship is not worthy of the grace of God that was extended to him in the first place.

Some people have reactionary feelings. By that I mean they react straight away and lash out. They adopt an irrational stance. Irrational people never make for harmony. They cause division. I think this might be the reason why some turn from God when the way gets hard. They react against God and give it all up. The psalmist was not doing that. He was just pouring out his heart from a well of misery.

Last time I mentioned the strong parallels between Psalm 88 and the two Messianic psalms 22 and 69. There is similar language. Those Messianic psalms were prayers from the cross when the Lord suffered there. The New Testament gives very few statements of Jesus on the day of crucifixion but the Psalms give a lot. It is even more pronounced as you go through Psalm 88. Here are a few of the verses that can be considered as parallels -

Psalm 22:6 But I am a worm and not a man, a reproach of men, and despised by the people. [The psalmist was despised by those who once knew him].

Psalm 69:2 I have sunk in deep mire and there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters and a flood overflows me. [The psalmist afflicted by waves that washed over him whatever the reason].

Psalm 69:8 I have become estranged from my brothers and an alien to my mother’s sons. [The psalmist had all his friends removed. He was alone. Speak on the significance of this verse.

Psalm 69:11-12 When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. Those who sit in the gate talk about me and I am the song of the drunkards, [His acquaintances had been removed from the psalmist].