Day 526: Psalm 88- In Darkness...Light

O Lord, God of my salvation,
    I cry out day and night before you.
2 Let my prayer come before you;
    incline your ear to my cry!
3 For my soul is full of troubles,
    and my life draws near to Sheol.
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit;
    I am a man who has no strength,
5 like one set loose among the dead,
    like the slain that lie in the grave,
like those whom you remember no more,
    for they are cut off from your hand.
6 You have put me in the depths of the pit,
    in the regions dark and deep.
7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me,
    and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah
 
8 You have caused my companions to shun me;
    you have made me a horror to them.
I am shut in so that I cannot escape;
9     my eye grows dim through sorrow.
Every day I call upon you, O Lord;
    I spread out my hands to you.
10 Do you work wonders for the dead?
    Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah

11 Is your steadfast love declared in the grave,
    or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
12 Are your wonders known in the darkness,
    or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But I, O Lord, cry to you;
    in the morning my prayer comes before you.
14 O Lord, why do you cast my soul away?
    Why do you hide your face from me?
15 Afflicted and close to death from my youth up,
    I suffer your terrors; I am helpless.
16 Your wrath has swept over me;
    your dreadful assaults destroy me.
17 They surround me like a flood all day long;
    they close in on me together.
18 You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me;
    my companions have become darkness.
 
Meditation
God’s Word gives us permission to engage the difficulty of life and the darkness of our world. It is OK to ask God difficult questions and articulate personal frustrations.
 
Two lights of hope dot the darkest Psalm in the psalter.  O Lord, the repeated covenant name for God (2, 13, 14) reflects the anchoring of the psalmist in the secure love of God. Secondly, God is called the “God of my salvation” (2), a title reflecting faith that God will be faithful to His promises no matter how dark the days become. The context of covenant security gives ground for intense prayer.
 
Day and night the psalmist cries out (1-2). The shadows of death creeps closer, the feelings of forsakenness take over, and affliction appears to be the daily portion. The dark days are summarized in a familiar phrase, “darkness has become my only companion” (18).
 
This Psalm gives us language to join creation in longing for redemption (Romans 8:18-23). Like Job, it is possible for unmentionable suffering to be the lot of the believer. God will be faithful to His promises and we must keep our eyes of faith on Him. At this present moment Jesus is on the throne and making all things new (Revelation 21:6).  Satan wants to discourage faith, bending us toward breaking (Job 1:9). We know God is working for good what the enemy intends for evil (Genesis 50:20).
 
Light will dawn. The Son of righteousness will rise. Death will end. Jesus come quickly!
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you identify with the darkness of this prayer? How? Do you feel permission to ask God the difficult questions of your heart?
 
-The Psalm is anchored in faith, trusting the covenant love of God and His promise to save His people. Does the grounding of this prayer give you boldness to pray?
 
-How can you be bolder in your prayers, engaging the tough questions of life, to trust the person and promises of God more? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you.