Psalm 88 Bible Commentary

John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes

(Read all of Psalm 88)

Verse 4

[4] I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:

Counted — l am given up by my friends for a lost man.

Verse 5

[5] Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.

Free — Well nigh discharged from the warfare of the present life, and entered as a member into the society of the dead.

Whom — Thou seemest to neglect and bury in oblivion.

Verse 7

[7] Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. /*Selah*/.

Waves — With they judgments, breaking in furiously upon me like the waves of the sea.

Verse 10

[10] Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? /*Selah*/.

Wonders — In raising them to life.

To praise thee — In this world?

Verse 12

[12] Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

Forgetfulness — In the grave, where men are forgotten by their nearest relations.

Verse 13

[13] But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.

Prevent — Come to thee before the dawning of the day, or the rising of the sun.

Verse 17

[17] They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.

Water — As the waters of the sea encompass him who is in the midst of it.