10/12/2023
Reading my daily reading this morning and I couldnât help but share. My daily reading consist of an Old Testament passage, A Psalm or Proverb and a New Testament passage. The Psalm for today was Psalms 88. Iâm certain Iâve read the psalm many times but it never struck a nerve in me like today. Itâs what is know as âA Contemplationâ Psalm. If I remember correctly, there are 13 of them.
The Psalmist, Heman, is mentioned many times through out Kings and Chronicles. I donât remember much about him except being referred to as wise and talented. He had several kids who did great things. He was a blessed man.
Reading this Psalm you would not think this to be true. The Psalm is Sad. This Psalm is Different. Most laments end with a sense of resolve, this one does not. For example:
Psalm 13, âHow long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?â (v. 1), he ends with, âI will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with meâ (v. 6).
Psalm 42 says, âMy tears have been my food day and nightâ (v. 3), it ends with the psalmist commanding his soul, âHope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my Godâ (v. 11).
Psalm 88, however, has no resolution at the end. Throughout the psalm, Heman (the author), writes things such as,
âMy soul is full of troublesâ (v. 3), âI am a man who has no strengthâ (v. 4), âYour wrath is heavy upon meâ (v. 7), and âI suffer your terrorsâ (v. 15).
But unlike Psalm 13 and 42, Psalm 88 ends with Heman saying,
âYou have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darknessâ (v. 18).
And thatâs it⌠Thatâs the last verse. This is the only psalm without an obvious note of hope. Heman feels that his soul is submerged in agony, and it isnât letting up.
Whatâs crazy is how relatable many can find Hemans words to be⌠I know I do. I havenât talked much about my feelings of the recent losses my family and I have endured, nor do I intend to on social media but I do want to share what God is showing me through these honest, deep, dark words that I read in scripture this morning.
First is this. In Scripture, God is candid about our weakness, our sin, our need, and our suffering. He never puts on a front, but always tells it like it is perfectly. This becomes highly practical for those times when you feel ashamed that your soul is in such anguish and it seems like youâll never know peace again.
When it feels as if no one is struggling like you are, and no one understands the depth of your grief. Psalm 88 reminds me that God is not surprised by our angst, and He hasnât left us to suffer alone.
Psalm 88 is honest about life. Scripture does not dance around the hard realities of our existence in a fallen world. When we are experiencing inner turmoil, we donât always get to a settled place quickly. Godâs Word is raw at times, which means that Scripture relates to you. This helps me trust Godâs Word.
Second, Psalm 88 reminds us where to take our grief, even when the grief remains. This psalm is a honest heartfelt prayer. Through the whole Psalm, Heman continually seeks God. Even though he isnât getting what he desires, he cryâs out to God. (v.1-2, v.9, v.13) He knows God is the one he needs, so he refuses to look elsewhere for relief, even though he continues to suffer.
Whatever darkness you may be experiencing within, no matter how torturous it may feel, let Psalm 88 exhort you. Donât âdeconstruct.â Donât âquiet-quitâ the faith. Instead, take all your tangled mess and your hurt and feelings of abandonment to God. Cry out to Him and donât stop. It may not seem like it, but this is an act of faith. Ultimately, God is the one you need, not the answer to your desperate pleas.
Finally, Psalm 88 reminds us of the gospel. Jesus too experienced anguish of the soul as He prayed to His Father. But His anguish found its fulfillment in the absorption of Godâs wrath for our sin.
The Father did not let the cup pass from His Son (Matthew 26:39), so that those who trust in Christ will be forgiven of every sin and spend eternity with Him in heavenly fellowship. Believers will never know the anguish Christ knew, because He felt it in our place. When you experience darkness or depression or grief, take some time to meditate on the reality that your agony is miniscule compared to Christâs. This is not to belittle your suffering, but to give you the hope of perspective, and encourage you to praise your Savior. Because Jesus felt the anguish of the cross, your lesser anguish is only temporary, as you look forward to eternal glory with him.
God is with you in all things! He loves you and cares for you.
â6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under Godâs mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.â 1 Peter 5:6-7
