June 29, 2008: Psalm 88
June 29, 2008- The God of the despairing is a God with attributes
- He is the God of the Psalmist’s salvation (v. 1)
- He hears prayer if He chooses to do so (v. 2)
- The Psalmist sees no difference between his plight and death
- His soul has nothing but troubles; he draws near to Sheol (v. 3)
- Others see him strength wasting away as if he were dying (v. 4)
- He has no power or choice (v. 5a)
- It is as if God no longer remembers him (v. 5b)
- God has sovereignly and righteously brought this affliction upon the Psalmist
- God has placed him into this dark place (v. 6)
- This is a natural consequence of God’s wrath, and it overwhelms those who are not blind to it (v. 7)
- The crutches of companionship are removed, and the author is alone (v. 8a)
- Nothing the Psalmist does avails (v. 8b)
- His joy and zest for life are flickering and going out (v. 9a)
- God hears the prayers of His people
- Daily the Psalmist calls upon God, offering nothing to Him (v. 9b)
- In the despair of death, the Psalmist questions whether God can do anything for the dead (vv. 10-12)
- Miracles?
- Love declared?
- Righteousness?
- Every morning the Psalmist cries out to God (v. 13)
- The Psalmist has faith in God’s love and mercy
- God “hides His faceâ€? and “casts his soul awayâ€? — implying that if God faced the Psalmist, He would show mercy (v. 14)
- The Psalmist’s need is a chronic one, but he knows it is from the Lord (v. 15)
- The Psalmist admits that God’s wrath is backing him into a corner (vv. 16, 17)
- No human is left who can be of any comfort (v. 18)
- Light from the New Covenant
- Our high priest can sympathize with our weakness (Heb. 4:14-16)
- God laid His wrath upon Christ (Is. 53:4-6, 10, 11)
- Power to overcome despair is from God (2 Cor. 4:7-18)
- The treasure that we carry in these jars of clay is the gospel (vv. 3-7)
- If we are speaking from faith, then we have an eternal hope that conquers death (vv. 13-15)
- Afflictions are external only; the inner man can be renewed daily, as we focus on the cross of Christ and not our own lives (vv. 16-18)
- Jesus Christ is the revelation that causes Psalm 88 to make sense, and to be hopeful; the Psalmist described the imperative without having the complete indicative revealed. Because Christ has come, we can be renewed daily; the wrath falls, not on us, but on Him.
