Psalm 88
This is purely and simply a song of complaint. There are, after all, times in our lives when EVERYTHING seems wrong and hope doesn't seem to be an option. Acquaintances, friends, and even loved ones are, as the psalmist put it, "far from me."
However, even though he says, "I have been afflicted and ready to die from my youth," yet just the fact that he mentions acquaintances, friends, and loved ones tells us that there have been better times. So the time pointed to in this psalm is apparently the darkest time in all the psalmist's life.
This song, therefore, should be appropriate for us on the darkest days of our own lives. We can see by example what we should do about our own deepest troubles, about times when even hope seems inappopriate.
The very first important lesson we must learn is that even in the darkest time God was still the "God of my salvation." God Himself isn't defeated or even affected negatively by our troubles, and definitely of even more importance, He will not withdraw from us the way acquaintances, friends, and loved ones might. And He willingly listens to our prayers at ALL times.
Another important lesson we can learn here is that we can and should "let it all out" when we're talking to God. Nothing need be held back, and we can tell Him how we really feel. We can bare our souls to Him, telling Him that it feels like we are completely out of His sight, completely forgotten by Him, like one who "lies in the grave, whom You remember no more, and who are cut off from Your hand." We can tell Him that we've prayed every day, that in fact we've prayed continually to Him, and that it feels as though He doesn't hear.
We can say with the psalmist, "Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction? Shall Your wonders be known in the dark? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?" In other words we can say to Him, – if you go ahead and let me die – what profit to You is there in that?
It's important to notice, though, that the psalmist must previously have experienced God's wonders of lovingkindness, faithfulness, and righteousness - else he wouldn't miss these things so much now! Nevertheless, there are times in life when such experiences seem so far away as never to have happened!
It's also important, in coming before God at such times, to ask Him to show us why He's dealing with us this way. The psalmist says, "Lord, why do You cast off my soul? Why do you hide Your face from me?" By saying this he is opening Himself to God's instruction, to God's holy correction, to learning from His chastening. We need to do the same. We need to say, "Lord, I am being chastened, and I know I need it, but Oh, Lord, let me learn the lessons You have for me in it all!" The true believer should always be open to the Lord's correction and instruction, even through extremely painful times. Are you? If you are, then - and only then – it can do you good.
9.30p.m.
Yes Al, I am going through a time of correction.
I often think of those words "why do you hide Your face from me?"
I lost three of my closest friends and at the same time I moved to another area. (v18). I felt so isolated as if God had forgotten me but I did call out to Him and He did open doors....Not as quickly as I wanted Him to.
I still don't understand fully why He was so slow in opening new doors for me, although I have learned to lean more upon Him and I feel that were a similar situation to occur I would be more at peace within myself.
A situation arose recently and after much prayer I called loudly upon the Lord...VERY LOUDLY and the telephone rang. It was a retred Minister friend. The Lord had nudged him. He told me that I was to tell God exactly how I felt and not to keep it in....Gosh, Did I let go!....Yes I did!
I wanted a miracle and I felt God had cast me off...all my past sins were before me and my dearest friends were dead and not there to be a comfort and to tell my deepest secrets to......
I really was in despair.......but God knew and He spoke through Bob (my friend) at the right moment.
It's strange I do know God cares but there are times when He seems so far from me.....these times pass but when you are in them it feels as if God has abandoned you and it is is your own fault.....
AFTERWARDS YOU WAKE UP AND LEARN A LESSON. HE WILL NOT ABANDON US.
"In the morning shall my prayer come to meet
you" (v13) Shows that the Psalmist has a slight glimmer of hope left.......His prayer shall come before God.
"Though we are faithless, yet He remains faithful".
Yes, Jenny, the times in which our Lord teaches us most deeply and blessedly are usually the times in which we feel the most helpless. The trouble is that we do not see Him working, though He is doing so. We must keep on praying, keep on seeking Him in His Word, keep on doing what He has for us to do each day to the best of our ability - and we must keep on trusting Him. Not that He's always going to do what we thought should be done, but that He's always going to do the very best (Rom. 8:28). He loves you and will make it plain at exactly the right time.
Al.
Thank-you.
I will take your words as a precious promise for me from the Lord.
Re the Psalms.......
I am enjoying them as never before but very slowly as you advised.
Wish I could join Marilyn and come to your church.....This is the next best thing...
Your sister in Psalms...
Jenny.
Thank you for those words, Jenny. I pray our God will bless you greatly!
Well, I certainly found this Psalm to be a blessing.
Thank You, Father, for using me to bless my sister.