Psalms 88 is a tough read. Read over it again, if you get a chance and feel the full weight of what the psalmist is crying out to God. This is a lament Psalm but with a little different structure. This Psalm contains the address and complaint of a lament, it even contains the trust of a lament, which is harder to find in this Psalm. But this lament contains no real praise, assurance, or deliverance in it like a typical lament would. That is designed to catch our attention and give the Psalm much more weight to it. Did you feel the broken cries of distress from the writer? Here is the outline for the Psalm and I will also share a few more thoughts after the structure is given.
Cry of address and distress v.1-2
Here the speaker is calling on the covenant Yahweh title of God to save Him and here his prayer. He is calling God to not turn a deaf ear but to listen to the cries he is about to give.
Complaint of Troubles v. 3-5
Here the speaker is listing his troubles for Yahweh to hear. “My soul is full of trouble” or my soul is broken and in full distress. “My life draws near the grace” or the speaker is saying I am about to die. In this list of complaints death and being cut off from the care of God is a big theme that is brought out numerous times in these 3 verses.
Trust in the middle of afflictions v. 6-9
Here the speaker is recognizing that God has brought him to the place he is in. “You have out me’, “Your wrath”, and “You have taken” is the speakers way of telling God, look, I am in this situation because you have placed me here, I know it is hard, painful, and I am being broken, but I trust in your placing me here.
Questions raised v. 10-12
Here the speaker is wondering how, if he would die, God would get the praise He deserves. The speaker is unsure how God’s love would be declared in his death and how the righteousness of God will be made know around the world, if he would die.
More cries of complaint v. 13-18
The speaker ends his Psalm with staking more complaints to God and telling Yahweh how much pain he is in. Look at the last night, even all of the friends and loved ones have abandoned the speaker and he is utterly alone in darkness. And look also where the speaker says that much of what he is feeling right now is because of the wrath of God.
OK, there is the structure and outline of the Psalm. Did you feel the weight of it? Did you feel the pain and brokenness of the speaker? If you can now, read it a 3rd time but this final time, read it in light of Jesus and the Cross. Feel the weight even more now. The speaker could very well be Jesus on the cross making an atonement for us (which is why this Psalm is prophetic). I pray this Psalm gives you a new light on what Jesus did for you. Because all the questions and pain were answered by that atonement for you, so that you would never have to cry this Psalm to God as the speaker.
Cry of address and distress v.1-2
Here the speaker is calling on the covenant Yahweh title of God to save Him and here his prayer. He is calling God to not turn a deaf ear but to listen to the cries he is about to give.
Complaint of Troubles v. 3-5
Here the speaker is listing his troubles for Yahweh to hear. “My soul is full of trouble” or my soul is broken and in full distress. “My life draws near the grace” or the speaker is saying I am about to die. In this list of complaints death and being cut off from the care of God is a big theme that is brought out numerous times in these 3 verses.
Trust in the middle of afflictions v. 6-9
Here the speaker is recognizing that God has brought him to the place he is in. “You have out me’, “Your wrath”, and “You have taken” is the speakers way of telling God, look, I am in this situation because you have placed me here, I know it is hard, painful, and I am being broken, but I trust in your placing me here.
Questions raised v. 10-12
Here the speaker is wondering how, if he would die, God would get the praise He deserves. The speaker is unsure how God’s love would be declared in his death and how the righteousness of God will be made know around the world, if he would die.
More cries of complaint v. 13-18
The speaker ends his Psalm with staking more complaints to God and telling Yahweh how much pain he is in. Look at the last night, even all of the friends and loved ones have abandoned the speaker and he is utterly alone in darkness. And look also where the speaker says that much of what he is feeling right now is because of the wrath of God.
OK, there is the structure and outline of the Psalm. Did you feel the weight of it? Did you feel the pain and brokenness of the speaker? If you can now, read it a 3rd time but this final time, read it in light of Jesus and the Cross. Feel the weight even more now. The speaker could very well be Jesus on the cross making an atonement for us (which is why this Psalm is prophetic). I pray this Psalm gives you a new light on what Jesus did for you. Because all the questions and pain were answered by that atonement for you, so that you would never have to cry this Psalm to God as the speaker.
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