881 O Lord , the God of my salvation , I have cried out by day and in the night before You. 2 Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry ! 3 For my soul has had enough troubles , And my life has drawn near to Sheol . 4 I am reckoned among those who go down to the pit ; I have become like a man without strength , 5 Forsaken among the dead , Like the slain who lie in the grave , Whom You remember no more , And they are cut off from Your hand . 6 You have put me in the lowest pit , In dark places , in the depths . 7 Your wrath has rested upon me, And You have afflicted me with all Your waves . Selah . 8 You have removed my acquaintances far from me; You have made me an object of loathing to them; I am shut up and cannot go out. 9 My eye has wasted away because of affliction ; I have called upon You every day , O Lord ; I have spread out my hands to You.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 88:1-9
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.