Psalm
88 is the last "sons of Korah" psalm in the Psalms and is perhaps the
most plaintive song in the entire book. It is also the eleventh of thirteen “Maschil”
(Hebrew) or “Contemplation” Psalms written especially to instruct. Universally
acknowledged to be the saddest of all the psalms, there is scarcely a glimmer
of hope anywhere. It is full of dejection, despair, death. The very last word
of the psalm is the word "darkness."
Spurgeon
said, “Assuredly, if ever there was a song of sorrow and a Psalm of sadness,
this is one.” The Hebrew words Mahalath and Leannoth in the title, mean
"sickness" and "for singing" or "for humbling."
The first word probably refers to a sad melody to accompany this somber song,
and the second might identify the purpose of the psalm, to bring us low before
the Lord.
From
the title of the psalm, we also learn that “Heman the Ezrahite" is the
writer. There were two Hemans known to the Hebrew historians. We believe the writer
of this Psalm was Heman, the son of Joel, the grandson of Samuel, who was one
of the leaders of the musical side of the temple worship as organized by David
(I Chronicles 6:33). He had fourteen sons and three daughters. The other is
Heman who lived in Solomon’s time (1 Kings 4:31).
In
the Hebrew text, Psalm 88 ends with the word hoshek, which is translated "darkness."
There is no closing note of triumph as in other Psalms that begin with pain and
perplexity. The psalm speaks of darkness (vv. 1, 6, 12,18), life in the depths
(vv. 3-4, 6), the immanence of death (vv. 5, 10-11), feelings of drowning (vv.
7, 16-17), loneliness (vv. 5, 8, 14, 18), and imprisonment (v. 8).
Most
songs written by various musicians are a reflection of their feelings or emotions.
Many songs also express not only the soul of the writer but the general sense
or state of the culture that they live in. The most popular song in America
today is one written and sung by Oliver Anthony called “Rich Men North of
Richmond”. On YouTube, it has over 42
million views. I heard one commentator called it a “funeral dirge” of the
feeling and thoughts of a majority of Americans today. They are mourning and
expressing their anger and frustration over the broken state of our nation
today. Oliver, a country boy from Virginia, put it into the words of a song,
pickup up his guitar and sang it and people can’t stop listening to it because
it expresses their feelings.
I
believe this is what we find in Psalm 88! Heman was a servant of God who was
suffering intensely and did not understand why, yet he persisted in praying to
God and did not abandon his faith. Not all of life's scripts have happy
endings, but that does not mean that the Lord has forsaken us. From Heman's
experience, as recorded in this psalm, we can discover four instructions to
follow when life falls apart and our prayers seemingly are not answered.
First,
in verses 1-2, we learn that we should still come to the LORD by faith no
matter what or how we are feeling! Heman's life had not been an easy one (v.
15) and now it had grown even more difficult, and he felt that death was very
near (vv. 3, 10-11). But he did not give up! He still trusted in God, whom he
addressed as "Lord—Jehovah" four times in this prayer (vv. 1, 9, 13,
14). "Jehovah" is the name of the Lord that emphasizes His covenant
relationship with His people, and Heman was a son of that covenant. Heman also
addressed Him as "God—Elohim," the name that expresses His power. The
phrase "God of my salvation" indicates that Heman had trusted the
Lord to save him, and the fact that he prayed as he did indicates that his
faith was still active.
Suffering
sours some souls; it sweetens others. The poet who penned Psalm 88 was a man
made patient and prudent through pain. Today, by God’s grace we can experience
the same! Don’t give up!
God
bless!
