A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah, for the music director; according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

“Lord, God of my salvation,
I have cried out by day and in the night before You.
Let my prayer come before You;
Incline Your ear to my cry!”

“For my soul has had enough troubles,
And my life has approached Sheol.
I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
I have become like a man without strength,”

“Abandoned among the dead,
Like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom You no longer remember,
And they are cut off from Your hand.
You have put me in the lowest pit,
In dark places, in the depths.”

“Your wrath has rested upon me,
And You have afflicted me with all Your waves.” — Selah

The Loneliness of Affliction

“You have removed my acquaintances far from me;
You have made me an object of loathing to them;
I am shut in and cannot go out.
My eye grows dim from misery;
I have called upon You every day, Lord;
I have spread out my hands to You.”

“Will You perform wonders for the dead?
Will the departed spirits rise and praise You?
Will Your graciousness be declared in the grave,
Your faithfulness in Abaddon?
Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness?
And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?”

A Final Plea Amid Silence

“But I, Lord, have cried out to You for help,
And in the morning my prayer comes before You.
Lord, why do You reject my soul?
Why do You hide Your face from me?”

“I was miserable and about to die from my youth on;
I suffer Your terrors; I grow weary.
Your burning anger has passed over me;
Your terrors have destroyed me.
They have surrounded me like water all day long;
They have encircled me altogether.”

“You have removed lover and friend far from me;
My acquaintances are in a hiding place.”

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Context and Meaning

Psalm 88 is one of the darkest laments in all of Scripture. Unlike other psalms of lament that end in hope or praise, this one closes in silence and sorrow. Written by Heman the Ezrahite, it expresses deep affliction, abandonment, and despair—but still turns to God in the midst of it.

Rather than being a lack of faith, this psalm is a testament to persistent faith in the midst of overwhelming darkness.

Key Themes:

1. Unrelenting Sorrow: The psalmist is surrounded by darkness, affliction, and isolation (v. 1–9).
2. Seeming Absence of God: Despite constant prayer, God appears silent and distant (v. 14).
3. Persistent Crying Out: Even in despair, the psalmist continues to seek the Lord (v. 1, 9, 13).
4. No Resolution, But Ongoing Faith: The psalm doesn’t end in triumph but still keeps God in the center of the pain (v. 18).

Reflection and Impact

Psalm 88 gives permission to grieve deeply and honestly before God, without pretending that everything is okay:

• God Is Still the God of Salvation: Even while feeling abandoned, the psalmist calls Him “Lord, God of my salvation” (v. 1).
• Faith Is Not Always Cheerful: Sometimes, faith looks like clinging to God in the silence (Job 13:15).
• You Can Be Honest in Prayer: God welcomes our darkest thoughts and deepest cries (Psalm 62:8).
• The Psalms Make Space for Mental and Spiritual Suffering: God is not afraid of your depression, anxiety, or fear.

Application

• Don’t Hide Your Pain From God: He is not shocked or offended by your honesty—bring it all to Him.
• Keep Praying Through the Silence: When it feels like God isn’t answering, press on in hope and humility.
• Remember Others Carry Darkness Too: Be compassionate—Psalm 88 reminds us that many suffer in silence.
• Let the Psalms Shape Your Suffering: God gave us this psalm so we wouldn’t suffer alone—or without words.

Closing Thought

Psalm 88 shows that even the darkest valley can be walked with God. The silence isn’t the end—it’s the space where persistent faith grows.
“Lord, God of my salvation… I cry out to You.”