Click here to read PSALM 88 in poetic form
Background
Psalm 88 is in the Leviticus book of the Psalms (73—89). The Old Testament book of Leviticus focuses on matters in the sanctuary: the priesthood, ceremonial laws, and feasts. Almost all of these 17 Psalms mention the sanctuary and God’s relation to it. Psalm 88 shows the Messiah’s great humility toward God and His sanctuary.
This Psalm has the title “Maschil,” which means instruction. It was used for public teaching and shows the victory God gives through His Messiah. It includes “Heman the Ezrahite.” Heman was known for his wisdom. I Kings 4:31: “For he [Solomon] was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman….” He was one of three leaders of worship services in Jerusalem. I Chronicles 15:19: “So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass.” Heman spoke for God, being called King David’s “seer,” and had many children. I Chronicles 25:5: “All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.” These three leaders contributed to the Book of Psalms. Note that some Psalms are attributed to Asaph, as this one is to Heman, and the following Psalm (89) to Ethan the Ezrahite.
This Psalm is divided into three sections by the Hebrew term “Selah,” which means to pause. Some Bible teachers say this connected the truths that come before and after the term.
Structure
(Verses 1-7) Prayer for God to help the Messiah in time of trouble and death
Pause
(Verses 8-10) Messiah’s suffering unto death
Pause
(Verses 11-18) Prayer for God to help the Messiah in time of trouble and death
Key Scriptures
Verses 3-6; 10-12—“nigh unto the grave”; “with them that go down into the pit”; “Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave”; “laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps”; “Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee?” “Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?” “Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?” There are at least 14 references to death and the grave. Yet, God promised to raise the Messiah from the dead!
Verse 13—“But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent [come before] thee.” The Psalmist continued to trust in God for deliverance despite the troubles around him. This would have inspired Jesus Christ to trust that God would raise him from the dead (as in verses 3-6 and 10-12 of this Psalm).
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
