Who is speaking in this passage and what is he going through?

The words come from Heman the Ezrahite, a man known among God’s people for wisdom and song. Here he pours out his heart to God in deep distress. He feels overwhelmed with trouble and says his life is close to the grave. He feels like someone already counted among the dead, without strength, left in the lowest pit and deep darkness. God’s anger seems to press on him, and even his friends have pulled away. Yet in all this, he keeps crying out to the Lord as the God of his salvation.

What does it mean when he says, "my soul is full of troubles"?

When he says his soul is full of troubles, he means he feels filled up and weighed down with sorrow inside, as if there is no room left for anything but pain. It is not only outward problems, but inward distress in his heart and mind. He feels close to death and without strength. This line gives words for times when a person feels completely overwhelmed, and shows that such feelings can be brought honestly to God in prayer, not hidden or denied.

Why does the writer feel like God’s wrath lies hard upon him?

He describes God’s wrath as lying hard on him and speaks of being afflicted with all God’s waves. This picture is like being pounded again and again by heavy surf, with no break. He feels that what is happening is not random, but comes from God’s hand. That sense makes his pain deeper, because he believes in God and yet feels crushed by him. Still, by speaking this to God, he shows faith even in confusion, choosing to bring his complaint to the One he believes rules over his suffering.

What is meant by "I am counted with them that go down into the pit"?

When he says he is counted with those who go down into the pit, he is saying people see him as good as dead. The “pit” pictures the grave and the place of the dead. He feels cut off from the living, useless in normal life, like someone already laid aside. He even calls himself “free among the dead,” meaning free from the work and cares of this life, but in a grim way. This shows how close to death and forgotten he feels, and how strong his sense of being finished is.

Why does he ask, "Shall the dead arise and praise thee?"

Those questions are part of his plea for God to act now, while he is still alive. He asks if wonders will be shown to the dead, or if God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness will be declared in the grave. He argues that if he dies, he will no longer be able to praise God among the living or speak of God’s goodness. So he is saying, in simple terms, “Help me while I can still worship you on earth,” using his weakness as a reason for God to save him.

What does this passage teach about praying in deep distress?

The passage shows that prayer in deep distress can be very raw and honest. The writer cries day and night, stretches out his hands, and does not hide his questions or pain. He asks why God has cast off his soul and why God hides his face, yet he keeps calling God the God of his salvation. This teaches that real faith does not always feel cheerful, but it keeps turning to God. We are allowed to bring our darkest feelings and hardest questions to the Lord instead of turning away from him.

Why does the psalm end with darkness and not with comfort?

The words close with “lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.” There is no neat change to joy within the song itself. This can be hard to read, but it is honest to many people’s experience, when relief does not come quickly. The passage shows that a believing person may feel no light at the end of the prayer, yet still speak to God. It gives voice to those seasons, and shows that even unresolved sorrow can be turned into prayer.

How can this passage help someone who feels depressed or abandoned?

Someone who feels depressed or abandoned may recognize their own feelings in these words: being full of troubles, shut up with no way out, cut off from friends, and feeling forgotten by God. This can be a comfort, because it shows that such thoughts are not strange to people of faith. The writer does not pretend to be fine, yet he keeps praying, morning after morning. This can encourage a hurting person to bring their pain to God, trusting that he hears even when no change is yet seen.

What does this passage show about God’s character in suffering?

At first glance, God may seem only distant and angry here, as the writer feels God’s wrath and hidden face. Yet the whole prayer is spoken to the “God of my salvation.” That name shows the writer still believes God saves, even when he feels the opposite. The fact that such a prayer exists teaches that God allows and receives honest lament. He is not just the God of the happy and strong, but also the God who listens when his people feel crushed, alone, and close to death.

Ps.88.1

Psalm 88:1

King James Version (KJV)

O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:

Chapter:

I Cry Out before You

A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. of Heman the Ezrahite.

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;

3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.

4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:

5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.

6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.

7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.

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.

9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.

10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.

11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?

12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.

14 Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?

15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.

16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.

17 They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.

18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.

Context:

I Cry Out before You

Sub Context:

A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. of Heman the Ezrahite.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.