16 Thy fierce wrath H2740 goeth over H5674 me; thy terrors H1161 have cut me off. H6789
[[A Psalm H4210 of David, H1732 to bring to remembrance.]] H2142 O LORD, H3068 rebuke H3198 me not in thy wrath: H7110 neither chasten H3256 me in thy hot displeasure. H2534 For thine arrows H2671 stick fast H5181 in me, and thy hand H3027 presseth me sore. H5181
Who knoweth H3045 the power H5797 of thine anger? H639 even according to thy fear, H3374 so is thy wrath. H5678
Because H6440 of thine indignation H2195 and thy wrath: H7110 for thou hast lifted me up, H5375 and cast me down. H7993
Surely H403 he hath borne H5375 our griefs, H2483 and carried H5445 our sorrows: H4341 yet we did esteem H2803 him stricken, H5060 smitten H5221 of God, H430 and afflicted. H6031 But he was wounded H2490 for our transgressions, H6588 he was bruised H1792 for our iniquities: H5771 the chastisement H4148 of our peace H7965 was upon him; and with his stripes H2250 we are healed. H7495 All we like sheep H6629 have gone astray; H8582 we have turned H6437 every one H376 to his own way; H1870 and the LORD H3068 hath laid H6293 on him the iniquity H5771 of us all.
He was taken H3947 from prison H6115 and from judgment: H4941 and who shall declare H7878 his generation? H1755 for he was cut off H1504 out of the land H776 of the living: H2416 for the transgression H6588 of my people H5971 was he stricken. H5061
And after H310 threescore H8346 and two H8147 weeks H7620 shall Messiah H4899 be cut off, H3772 but not for himself: and the people H5971 of the prince H5057 that shall come H935 shall destroy H7843 the city H5892 and the sanctuary; H6944 and the end H7093 thereof shall be with a flood, H7858 and unto the end H7093 of the war H4421 desolations H8074 are determined. H2782
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 88
Commentary on Psalms 88 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 88
Ps 88:1-18. Upon Mahalath—either an instrument, as a lute, to be used as an accompaniment (Leannoth, "for singing") or, as others think, an enigmatic title (see on Ps 5:1, Ps 22:1, and Ps 45:1, titles), denoting the subject—that is, "sickness or disease, for humbling," the idea of spiritual maladies being often represented by disease (compare Ps 6:5, 6; 22:14, 15, &c.). On the other terms, see on Ps 42:1 and Ps 32:1. Heman and Ethan (see on Ps 89:1, title) were David's singers (1Ch 6:18, 33; 15:17), of the family of Kohath. If the persons alluded to (1Ki 4:31; 1Ch 2:6), they were probably adopted into the tribe of Judah. Though called a song, which usually implies joy (Ps 83:1), both the style and matter of the Psalm are very despondent; yet the appeals to God evince faith, and we may suppose that the word "song" might be extended to such compositions.
1, 2. Compare on the terms used, Ps 22:2; 31:2.
3. grave—literally, "hell" (Ps 16:10), death in wide sense.
4. go … pit—of destruction (Ps 28:1).
as a man—literally, "a stout man," whose strength is utterly gone.
5. Free … dead—Cut off from God's care, as are the slain, who, falling under His wrath, are left, no longer sustained by His hand.
6. Similar figures for distress in Ps 63:9; 69:3.
7. Compare Ps 38:2, on first, and Ps 42:7, on last clause.
8. Both cut off from sympathy and made hateful to friends (Ps 31:11).
9. Mine eye mourneth—literally, "decays," or fails, denoting exhaustion (Ps 6:7; 31:9).
I … called—(Ps 86:5, 7).
stretched out—for help (Ps 44:20).
10. shall the dead—the remains of ghosts.
arise—literally, "rise up," that is, as dead persons.
11, 12. amplify the foregoing, the whole purport (as Ps 6:5) being to contrast death and life as seasons for praising God.
13. prevent—meet—that is, he will diligently come before God for help (Ps 18:41).
14. On the terms (Ps 27:9; 74:1; 77:7).
15. from … youth up—all my life.
16, 17. the extremes of anguish and despair are depicted.
18. into darkness—Better omit "into"—"mine acquaintances (are) darkness," the gloom of death, &c. (Job 17:13, 14).