Psalm 88

This is a profound and, I believe, unique Psalm.  It is one that has always stood out because there is no resolution to the Psalmist's plea for help.  Usually the Psalms that come out of the trials of the saints come to praise at the end.  This one does not. 

Briefly note the progress of this prayer:

• Ø  He pleads with God to hear his prayer, v1-2.
• Ø  His soul is full of troubles, v3-5.
• Ø  He knows God has brought this, that God is at work, v6-9a.  God has even separated him from his acquaintances; he is left alone.
• Ø  If he dies how will he declare God’s goodness, v9b-12.
• Ø  Why do you hide your face, Lord, v13-18?

Why does God not give an answer?  Why is there no reassurance of faith?  One thing we can tell is, it is not because the writer lacks passion about his problem or his God.  He:

• ·         Cries (v1), the cry of one in distress.
• ·         Lifts a prayer (v2), meaning to make intercession.
• ·         Cries again (v2), a term emphasizing the loudness.  He is shouting to God!
• ·         Calls daily (v9), suggesting an encounter with someone.  We might say he is accosting God when he stretched out my hands to You!
• ·         Cries out in the morning (v13), still another term that is the cry for help.

Furthermore, it is not because his prayer is misdirected.  James says that often we ask and do not receive because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures (James 4:3).  But that is not the case here.  Heman the Ezrahite (cf. the title to the Psalm) is concerned with the glory of God.  He cannot understand why God would let him die since that would be the end of his praise for God.  Shall Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave?  Or Your faithfulness in the place of destruction? (v11)

Heman comes to no understanding as to why these things are happening.  The only thing we might see is the pain he has experienced because his friends and loved ones have separated themselves far from him; he mentions this twice (v8,18).  The loss of support from our fellow-man is generally God’s way of encouraging us to more deeply trust Him.  But there is no thought that Heman has learned that lesson.

What are we to say?  Perhaps it is the lesson of Job.  God is not required to either tell us why He is doing what He is doing, nor is He required to let us know when the pain will stop, or even if it will stop!  God has not, in fact, hidden His face from us.  The Lord knows the way of the righteous (Psalm 1:6).  When He does not permit us to see the answer, may our hope be strong (Rom. 8:23-25)!  May our faith be satisfying (Heb. 11:1).  May we see Christ in it all (1 Pet. 1:8).