Overview of Psalm 88

Introduction

Psalm 88, attributed to Heman the Ezrahite, stands out as one of the darkest laments in the Psalter. This psalm expresses profound despair and a sense of abandonment by God, with the psalmist crying out from the depths of isolation and suffering.

Cry of Desperation (Psalm 88:1-9a)

The psalm begins with the psalmist pleading for God to hear his cries for help, emphasizing the urgency and desperation of his prayers. He describes his life as being full of troubles and near death, feeling as though he has been counted among those who go down to the pit. This imagery of darkness and despair paints a vivid picture of a soul in anguish, feeling forsaken and isolated.

Lament of Sheol-like Isolation

The first part of the psalm deeply expresses the psalmist’s feelings of abandonment and existential dread, akin to being in Sheol or the grave, highlighting his sense of separation from the living and from God’s light.

Anguish and Abandonment (Psalm 88:9b-18)

As the lament continues, the psalmist describes his state as one of total abandonment by friends and companions, attributing his isolation to God’s wrath. He uses stark imagery of drowning, darkness, and enclosure to convey his feelings of being trapped and forgotten. The intensity of his suffering is compounded by his sense that God has hidden His face from him.

Accusation of Divine Indifference

The latter part of the psalm deepens the lament, as the psalmist accuses God of casting him off and hiding His face, suggesting a theological crisis where God’s absence feels both profound and punitive.

Connections and Theological Implications

Connection to Jesus Christ

Psalm 88 connects to Jesus Christ through the themes of suffering, abandonment, and the experience of feeling forsaken by God. Christ’s experience on the cross, where He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), mirrors the despair and isolation expressed in the psalm. This moment on the cross represents the ultimate fulfillment of the psalm’s lament, as Christ takes on the ultimate abandonment-separation from God due to sin-on behalf of humanity.

God’s Love for the World

This psalm, while stark and devoid of resolution within its verses, ultimately underscores the depth of God’s love by its inclusion in the biblical canon. It demonstrates God’s acceptance of all human emotions and states, including the darkest despair, as valid expressions of the human condition before God. It reassures believers that no depth of suffering or despair can separate them from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39), even when His presence feels distant.

Relevance Today

Psalm 88 remains profoundly relevant today for several reasons:

• Validation of Human Suffering: It provides a scriptural basis for expressing lament and despair without immediate resolution, validating the feelings of those who struggle with depression and profound loss.
• Encouragement in Unresolved Despair: The psalm encourages believers to continue communicating with God even in the darkest times, underscoring the importance of prayer and honesty in one’s relationship with God.
• Reflection on the Nature of Suffering and Faith: It challenges the faithful to consider the nature of suffering and God’s role during such times, promoting a deeper theological and personal reflection on the mysteries of divine providence and human experience.

Psalm 88 serves not only as a lament but also as a profound testament to the complexity of faith, encouraging believers to maintain their relationship with God through all seasons of life, including those of deep darkness and despair.