Grace Community Bible Church Sermons

Charles Sebold: Psalm 88

1. The God of the despairing is a God with attributes
1. He is the God of the Psalmist’s salvation (v. 1)
2. He hears prayer if He chooses to do so (v. 2)
2. The Psalmist sees no difference between his plight and death
1. His soul has nothing but troubles; he draws near to Sheol (v. 3)
2. Others see him strength wasting away as if he were dying (v. 4)
3. He has no power or choice (v. 5a)
4. It is as if God no longer remembers him (v. 5b)
3. God has sovereignly and righteously brought this affliction upon the Psalmist
1. God has placed him into this dark place (v. 6)
2. This is a natural consequence of God’s wrath, and it overwhelms those who are not blind to it (v. 7)
3. The crutches of companionship are removed, and the author is alone (v. 8a)
4. Nothing the Psalmist does avails (v. 8b)
5. His joy and zest for life are flickering and going out (v. 9a)
4. God hears the prayers of His people
1. Daily the Psalmist calls upon God, offering nothing to Him (v. 9b)
2. In the despair of death, the Psalmist questions whether God can do anything for the dead (vv. 10-12)
1. Miracles?
2. Love declared?
3. Righteousness?
3. Every morning the Psalmist cries out to God (v. 13)
5. The Psalmist has faith in God’s love and mercy
1. God “hides His face” and “casts his soul away” — implying that if God faced the Psalmist, He would show mercy (v. 14)
2. The Psalmist’s need is a chronic one, but he knows it is from the Lord (v. 15)
3. The Psalmist admits that God’s wrath is backing him into a corner (vv. 16, 17)
4. No human is left who can be of any comfort (v. 18)
6. Light from the New Covenant
1. Our high priest can sympathize with our weakness (Heb. 4:14-16)
2. God laid His wrath upon Christ (Is. 53:4-6, 10, 11)
3. Power to overcome despair is from God (2 Cor. 4:7-18)
1. The treasure that we carry in these jars of clay is the gospel (vv. 3-7)
2. If we are speaking from faith, then we have an eternal hope that conquers death (vv. 13-15)
3. 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)
4. 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.