Psalms 88

Psalms 88:1

Title. Maschil = Instruction. The eleventh of thirteen so named. See note on Title, Psalms 32, and App-65. The title, rearranged as above, removes the difficulty of this Psalm being ascribed to two different writers.

Heman. Celebrated for wisdom (with Ethan, 89), 1 Kings 4:31. 1 Chronicles 6:33, 1 Chronicles 6:44; 1 Chronicles 25:4. He was a Kohathite, while Ethan was a Merarite. See App-63and App-64.

Ezrahite. Put for Zerahite. Probably the name of a district. Compare the case of Elkanah (1 Samuel 1:1.

The Psalm is prophetic of Messiah’s humiliation, corresponding with Psalms 86. See the Structure, p. 789.

LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4).

Psalms 88:3

soul. Hebrew. nephesh (App-13), for emphasis.

the grave. Hebrew. Sheol.

Psalms 88:4

am = have been.

I am = I am become.

man. Hebrew. geber.

Psalms 88:5

Free = Set free: i.e. by death, so as to be free from the Law (according to the Talmud, Shabbath, vol. 151. B).

the grave = sepulchre. Hebrew. keber. See App-35.

Psalms 88:7

upon me. Same word as “over me”, Psalms 88:16, with which the member corresponds.

Selah. Connecting Psalms 88:6 with its amplification in verses: Psalms 88:8, Psalms 88:9.

Psalms 88:10

dead. Hebrew. Rephaim, who have no resurrection. See note on Isaiah 26:14, where it is rendered “deceased”; and 19, where it is rendered “the dead”. Compare App-23and App-25.

Selah. Connecting Psalms 88:10 with its amplification in verses: Psalms 88:11-13. Compare Selah, Psalms 88:7. See App-66.

Psalms 88:13

prevent = come before.

Psalms 88:14

face. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.

Psalms 88:16

over me. Same word as “upon me”, Psalms 88:7.

Psalms 88:17

daily = all the day.

Psalms 88:18

put far from me. Compare Psalms 88:8, the corresponding member.