Psalm 88:1 O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you.
2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
3 For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave.
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength.
5 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
7 Your wrath lies heavily upon me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. "Selah"
8 You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape;
9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, O LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do those who are dead rise up and praise you? "Selah"
11 Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction ?
12 Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?
13 But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 Why, O LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me?
15 From my youth I have been afflicted and close to death; I have suffered your terrors and am in despair.
16 Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me.
17 All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me.
18 You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.
Devotional:
My father had a strong faith and a good sense of humor. When he was eighty-five he was still quite vigorous. Every day he rode his bicycle�not because he wanted exercise but because bicycling was his means of transportation. And he always prayed that he might die "in the harness." He wanted to be taken directly from his work to the Lord's presence. Most aging people wish to die that way.
God did not give my father what he asked. He grew weak and experienced pain. He became dependent on others for the most basic of human needs. That was tough on him.
One day one of his children came to his bedside and said, "Shall I read to you from the Bible?" He said, "Yes, read Psalm 88." We were shocked that our dad would take the words of this psalm and make them his own. For he had never allowed us to hint at any unkindness in God. We weren't even allowed to complain about the weather. And now this:
My soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave.
You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
Your wrath lies heavily upon me.
Why, 0 LORD, do you reject me...?
You have taken my companions and loved ones from me;
the darkness is my closest friend.
�vv. 3, 6�7, 14, 18
Sons and daughters of God are allowed to complain to God, shout at God, cry at his footstool, express deep disappointment. God teaches us that in the psalms. He also promises that in our darkness we'll find the ultimate Friend, who will dry our tears.
