G2 P 1,2. Prayer.
Q R 3-6. Dissolution near.
S 7. Wrath. Waves.
T 8,9-. Desolation.
P -9-14. Prayer.
Q R 15. Dissolution near.
S 16,17. Wrath. Waves.
T 18. Desolation.
(Heman celebrated for wisdom [with Ethan, 89], 1 Kings 4:37. 1 Chron. 6:33,44; 25:4. He was a Kohathite, while Ethan was a Merarite. Zerahite was probably the name of a district. Cp. the case of Elkanah [1 Sam. 1:1]. The Psalm is prophetic of Messiah's humiliation, corresponding with Ps. 86.)
Psalm 88)
1 O lord God of my salvation,
I have cried day and night before You:
2 Let my prayer come before You:
Incline Your ear unto my cry;
3 For my soul is full of troubles:
And my life draws near to the grave (Sheol).
4 I have been counted with them that go down into the pit:
I have become as a man that has no strength:
5 Set free (i.e. by death, so as to be free from the Law) among the dead,
Like the slain that lie in the sepulcher,
Whom You remember no more:
And they are cut off from Your hand.
6 You have laid me in the lowest pit,
In darkness, in the deeps.
7 Your wrath lies hard upon me,
And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah. (Connecting v.6 with its amplification in vv.8,9.)
8 You have put away my acquaintance far from me;
You have made me an abomination to them:
I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
9 My eye mourns by reason of affliction:
P o -9. Declaratory.
p 10-12. Interrogatory.
o 13. Declaratory.
p 14. Interragatory.
LORD, I have called daily upon You,
I have stretched out my hands to You.
10 Will You show wonders to the dead?
Shall the dead (Raphaim, who have no resurrection) arise and praise You? Selah. (Connecting v.10 with its amplification in vv.11-13.)
11 Shall Your loving-kindness be declared in the grave?
or Your faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall Your wonders be known in the dark?
And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But to You have I cried, O LORD;
And in the morning shall my prayer come before You.
14 LORD, why cast You off my soul?
Why hide You Your face from me?
15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up:
While I suffer Your terrors I am distracted.
16 Your fierce wrath goes over me;
Your terrors have cut me off.
17 They came round about me all the day like water;
They compassed me about together.
18 Lover and friend have You put far from me,
And my acquaintance into darkness.