Psalm 88
Theme
I Cry Out Day and Night Before You
Outline
1-6, Near Death All Day Cry for Help 7-12, Under Wrath All Day Plea for Mercy 13-18, Morning Darkness All Day Cry for Help
Key Verse
(88:1) O LORD, God of my salvation, I have cried out day and night before You.
Notes
Psalm 88 is considered the most somber psalm, lacking the resolution found in others that transition from despair to praise. Authored by Heman the Ezrahite, it consists of two-verse thought units, beginning with a plea for help and expressing near-death distress. The psalmist describes feelings of being cut off from God and overwhelmed by divine wrath. Central to the psalm are questions about whether the dead can praise God, emphasizing a desire for deliverance in life. The structure reveals a chiastic pattern, highlighting themes of alienation, darkness, and a continuous cry for help. The psalm is divided into three sections, focusing on near-death pleas, pleas for mercy under wrath, and morning cries for help.