88:1(A Song [or] Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief
Musician upon Mahalath a Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the
Ezrahite.) O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day
[and] night b before thee:
(a) That is, to humble. It was the beginning of a song by
which tune this psalm was sung.
(b) Though many cry in their sorrows, yet they cry not
earnestly to God for remedy as he did whom he confessed
to be the author of his salvation.
88:5c Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the
grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off
from thy d hand.
(c) For he who is dead is free from all cares and business
of this life and thus he says because he was
unprofitable for all matters concerning man's life, and
as it were cut off from this world.
(d) That is, from your providence and care, which is meant
according to the judgment of the flesh.
88:7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted [me]
with all thy e waves. Selah.
(e) The storms of your wrath have overwhelmed me.
88:8 Thou hast put away mine f acquaintance far from me; thou
hast made me an abomination unto them: g [I am] shut up,
and I cannot come forth.
(f) He attributes the loss and displeasure of his friends
to God's providence by which he partly punishes and
partly tries his.
(g) I see no end to my sorrows.
88:9h Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have
called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto
thee.
(h) My eyes and face declare my sorrows.
88:10 Wilt thou shew i wonders to the dead? shall the dead
arise [and] praise thee? Selah.
(i) He shows that the time is more convenient for God to
help when men call to him in their dangers, than to
tarry till they are dead, and then raise them up
again.
88:12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy
righteousness in the land k of forgetfulness?
(k) That is, in the grave, where only the body lies
without all sense and remembrance.
88:15 I [am] afflicted and ready to die l from [my] youth up:
[while] I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
(l) I am always in great dangers and sorrows as though my
life would utterly be cut off every moment.
