Psalms 88


Psalms 88
A PSALM OR SONG FOR THE SONS OF KORAH, TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, UPON MAHALOTH LEHANOTH, MASCHIL OF HEMAN THE EZRAHITE.
<<MAHALOTH>>: This could be from the root "Holeh" meaning sick and related to "Machalah" i.e. "sickness".  The Psalm is appropriate to be said by a sick person.
<<LEHANOTH>>: Misleadingly Transcribed, "Le-anoth" is more appropriate for the modern ear.
This word can mean "to answer" but it also means "to suffer", or "to complain, lament".
The Malbim says "Le-anoth"  means "to raise one's voice".
<<MASCHIL >>:  Understood to mean "instruction" or understanding.  From the root "SeCeL" or "applied intelligence". It is probably related to the English word "skill" which is pronounced similarly. 
The Malbim says this whole Psalm is the cry of someone suffering specifically a sick person lamenting the affliction of  illness.  We are allowed to complain to the Almighty for our misfortunes in the same way as we should given thanks for our blessings.
The Malbim says that this Psalm may also be applied to that portion of Israel suffering in Exile as the Jews of Judah suffered and to a degree is still suffering.
 
S.R. Hirsch translates this introductory verse as,
A PSALM-SONG BY THE SONS OF KORAH. TO HIM WHO GRANTS VICTORY OVER A CRUSHING PAIN; AN INSTRUCTION BY HEMAN THE EXRAHITE.
 
[Psalms 88:1] O LORD GOD OF MY SALVATION, I HAVE CRIED DAY AND NIGHT BEFORE THEE:                     
 
[Psalms 88:2] LET MY PRAYER COME BEFORE THEE: INCLINE THINE EAR UNTO MY CRY;  
The Malbim points out that the prayer once it is uttered becomes a creation of its own with its own dynamism. We ask that our prayer come before the Almighty.                  
 
[Psalms 88:3] FOR MY SOUL IS FULL OF TROUBLES: AND MY LIFE DRAWETH NIGH UNTO THE GRAVE.                     
 
[Psalms 88:4] I AM COUNTED WITH THEM THAT GO DOWN INTO THE PIT: I AM AS A MAN THAT HATH  NO STRENGTH: 
People think I am in the grave. I am considered as a man without power, as a nothing.                   
 
[Psalms 88:5] FREE AMONG THE DEAD, LIKE THE SLAIN THAT LIE IN THE GRAVE, WHOM THOU  REMEMBEREST NO MORE: AND THEY ARE CUT OFF FROM THY HAND.
Dead people do not suffer and have no obligations. They are free of the need to strive to better themselves, to have to keep going. People forget them. Sometimes a suffering person would prefer to be forgotten.                    
 
[Psalms 88:6] THOU HAST LAID ME IN THE LOWEST PIT, IN DARKNESS, IN THE DEEPS.
You have put me down. I cannot see my way out. Everything is dark around me as if there is no hope.                    
 
[Psalms 88:7] THY WRATH LIETH HARD UPON ME, AND THOU HAST AFFLICTED ME WITH ALL THY  WAVES. SELAH. 
One thing after another came upon me, wave after wave of affliction.                   
 
[Psalms 88:8] 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.
People do not like me. My associates distance themselves. I am an object of contempt to them.  People do not like to associate themselves with the suffering.  It is felt as if it brings bad luck, as if misfortune may be contagious. People like to mix with those who are successful who exude health and confidence. There is something to this. We are all like this to a degree whether we admit it or not.  We are all little snobs in our own way. When we have a friend or acquaintance who has fallen on hard times most of us may be sympathetic at first but there  also creeps in superciliousness.  A lot of us are unsure of ourselves and hesitant about mixing with those less fortunate than ourselves lest they pull us down or hold us back from getting where we would rather be.                  
 
[Psalms 88:9] MINE EYE MOURNETH BY REASON OF AFFLICTION: LORD, I HAVE CALLED DAILY  UPON THEE, I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS UNTO THEE.
I am crying, weeping because of my troubles. I am begging you God to help me.                    
 
[Psalms 88:10] WILT THOU SHEW WONDERS TO THE DEAD? SHALL THE DEAD ARISE AND PRAISE THEE? SELAH.   
If I die will you resurrect me? You can do it but chances are YOU will not since that is not something done in this existence. But if I die maybe YOU would want to? But prevent YOURSELF because as things go it is not "accepted practice"? Why put YOURSELF in such a position? Is it not better to heal me now?                 
 
[Psalms 88:11] SHALL THY LOVINGKINDNESS BE DECLARED IN THE GRAVE? OR THY FAITHFULNESS IN DESTRUCTION? 
Let us face it. If I die that is the end for the time being. YOU will not then help me, so please help me now while there is still a chance.                   
 
[Psalms 88:12] SHALL THY WONDERS BE KNOWN IN THE DARK? AND THY RIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE LAND OF FORGETFULNESS?
  <<FORGETFULNESS>>: Hebrew "Noshiah" related to the root of the name "Menasseh" pronounced in Hebrew as "MeNasheh".                    
 cf.  AND JOSEPH CALLED THE NAME OF THE FIRSTBORN MANASSEH: FOR GOD, SAID HE, HATH MADE ME FORGET [Hebrew "NaSHaNI"} ALL MY TOIL, AND ALL MY FATHER'S HOUSE [Genesis 41:51].                     

[Psalms 88:13] BUT UNTO THEE HAVE I CRIED, O LORD; AND IN THE MORNING SHALL MY PRAYER PREVENT THEE.  
<<PREVENT THEE>>: Hebrew "tekadmecha" literally "be there before you".                   
 
[Psalms 88:14] LORD, WHY CASTEST THOU OFF MY SOUL? WHY HIDEST THOU THY FACE FROM ME?                     
 
[Psalms 88:15] I AM AFFLICTED AND READY TO DIE FROM MY YOUTH UP: WHILE I SUFFER THY  TERRORS I AM DISTRACTED.  
There are people who suffer like this from  an early age.                  
 
[Psalms 88:16] THY FIERCE WRATH GOETH OVER ME; THY TERRORS HAVE CUT ME OFF.                     
 
[Psalms 88:17] THEY CAME ROUND ABOUT ME DAILY LIKE WATER; THEY COMPASSED ME ABOUT  TOGETHER.                     
 
[Psalms 88:18] LOVER AND FRIEND HAST THOU PUT FAR FROM ME, AND MINE ACQUAINTANCE INTO  DARKNESS.
Not only have you shown YOURSELF not well disposed towards me but because of this those I feel close to who should be with me keep themselves away.
The Almighty is a good God. He blesses those whom do good and punishes those who do not.   Such is the general rule. There are however exceptions both in individual cases and in certain periods of our own lives.
We do not understand everything and we are allowed to express ourselves according to our own understanding. This too is a form of prayer and without it prayer may not be possible.