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.
8 You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape;
8 You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a horror
8 You turned my friends against me, made me horrible to them. I'm caught in a maze and can't find my way out,
8 You have put away my acquaintances far from me; You have made me an abomination to them; I am shut up, and I cannot get out;
8 You have driven my friends away by making me repulsive to them. I am in a trap with no way of escape.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 88:8
Commentary on Psalm 88:1-9
(Read Psalm 88:1-9)
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.