‏ Psalms 88

* The psalmist pours out his soul to God in lamentation. (1-9)

He wrestles by faith, in his prayer to God for comfort. (10-18)1-9 The first words of the psalmist are the only words of

comfort and support in this psalm. Thus greatly may good men be

afflicted, and such dismal thoughts may they have about their

afflictions, and such dark conclusion may they make about their

end, through the power of melancholy and the weakness of faith.

He complained most of God's displeasure. Even the children of

God's love may sometimes think themselves children of wrath and

no outward trouble can be so hard upon them as that. Probably

the psalmist described his own case, yet he leads to Christ.

Thus are we called to look unto Jesus, wounded and bruised for

our iniquities. But the wrath of God poured the greatest

bitterness into his cup. This weighed him down into darkness and

the deep. 10-18 Departed souls may declare God's faithfulness, justice,

and lovingkindness; but deceased bodies can neither receive

God's favours in comfort, nor return them in praise. The

psalmist resolved to continue in prayer, and the more so,

because deliverance did not come speedily. Though our prayers

are not soon answered, yet we must not give over praying. The

greater our troubles, the more earnest and serious we should be

in prayer. Nothing grieves a child of God so much as losing

sight of him; nor is there any thing he so much dreads as God's

casting off his soul. If the sun be clouded, that darkens the

earth; but if the sun should leave the earth, what a dungeon

would it be! Even those designed for God's favours, may for a

time suffer his terrors. See how deep those terrors wounded the

psalmist. If friends are put far from us by providences, or

death, we have reason to look upon it as affliction. Such was

the calamitous state of a good man. But the pleas here used were

peculiarly suited to Christ. And we are not to think that the

holy Jesus suffered for us only at Gethsemane and on Calvary.

His whole life was labour and sorrow; he was afflicted as never

man was, from his youth up. He was prepared for that death of

which he tasted through life. No man could share in the

sufferings by which other men were to be redeemed. All forsook

him, and fled. Oftentimes, blessed Jesus, do we forsake thee;

but do not forsake us, O take not thy Holy Spirit from us