A Song of Sorrow…

 

A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the Chief Musician. Set to “Mahalath Leannoth.” A Contemplation of Heman the Ezrahite.

O LORD, God of my salvation,

I have cried out day and night before You.

2 Let my prayer come before You;

Incline Your ear to my cry.

3 For my soul is full of troubles,

And my life draws near to the grave.

4 I am counted with those who go down to the pit;

I am like a man who has no strength,

5 Adrift among the dead,

Like the slain who lie in the grave,

Whom You remember no more,

And who are cut off from Your hand.

6 You have laid me in the lowest pit,

In darkness, in the depths.

7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me,

And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah

8 You have put away my acquaintances far from me;

You have made me an abomination to them;

I am shut up, and I cannot get out;

9 My eye wastes away because of affliction.

LORD, I have called daily upon You;

I have stretched out my hands to You.

10 Will You work wonders for the dead?

Shall the dead arise and praise You? Selah

11 Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave?

Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction?

12 Shall Your wonders be known in the dark?

And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

13 But to You I have cried out, O LORD,

And in the morning my prayer comes before You.

14 LORD, why do You cast off my soul?

Why do You hide Your face from me?

15 I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth;

I suffer Your terrors;

I am distraught.

16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me;

Your terrors have cut me off.

17 They came around me all day long like water;

They engulfed me altogether.

18 Loved one and friend You have put far from me,

And my acquaintances into darkness.—Psalm 88

I have to say that Psalm 88 was a bit depressing.  The first half describes the Psalmist suffering in great detail and the last part his pleas for mercy and relief.  It is unlike most Psalms because there is no upturn at the end...the psalm concludes with the psalmist in a dark, lonely and friendless place.  I sighed and read it through again and then a third time. It came to me as I read, that all of us  have felt this way at one time or another even as believers.  What blessed me was that despite the writer’s despondency and depression, he turned his heart to the Lord.  It brought Psalm 62:8 to mind. 

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah

Spurgeon calls Psalm 88 a Song of Sorrow.  I really liked that because even when darkness is our only companion and we don’t understand the Lord’s ways, as believers, we always have hope.  Underlying all the Psalmist grief and depression was trust in His God.  He was NEVER alone and neither are we.  The darkness of our circumstances can not overcome the Light emanating from inside our hearts. Despite his feelings...despite his circumstances...it was to God he turned. With childlike faith then...despite our feelings...despite our circumstances...we WILL turn to our God.  

Father...Thank you that You are always with me.  Thank you that You hear my prayers.  Thank you that You sustain through difficult times with Your sustaining grace and Your unfailing love. Thank you that in You...even the night is light about me.