PSALMS 88 THE GLOOMIEST PSALM

THE PIT OF PROBLEMS V.1-8

EMBRACING OUR DESPAIR V.1 

THE ENTRANCE TO RELEASE        

O LORD God of my salvation,

THE EXPRESSION OF RELIANCE

I have cried day & night before You

EXPLAINING OUR DESIRE V.2

LET Us PERCEIVE YOUR PERCEPTION

Let my prayer come before You

LET US PENETRATE YOUR PRESENCE

incline Your ear unto my cry

EXPRESSING OUR DISTRESS V.3-6

FEELING DOWN FROM LIFE’S TESTS V.3

For my soul is full of troubles

FEELING DONE FROM LIFE’S TESTS 

CRYING FOR DEATH

and my life draws near unto the grave.

CONSIDERED AS DEAD V.4

I am counted with them that go down into the pit:

DEVASTATED WITH DOUBTS

I am as a man that hath no strength:

DEMORALIZED WITH DYSFUNCTION V.5

DREARY

Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave

DISCONNECTED

DISENCHANTED AND FORGOTTEN

who You remember no more:

DISENGAGED AND FAILING FEELING TRAPPED IN A TOMB

DISILLUSIONED

and they are cut off from Your hand.

DEPRESSED    

You have laid me in the lowest pit,

DISCOURAGED V.6

in darkness,

DESPAIRING        

in the deeps.

FEELING DAMNED BY LIFE’S TORMENTS v.7-8

BOGGLED BY HIS WRATH V.7

Your wrath lies hard upon me,

BURIED BY HIS WAVES

and You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah.

BANISHED BY MY WORRIES V.8

I FEEL DISTANT

You have put away my acquaintance

I FEEL DISEASED

far from me;

I FEEL DISABLED

I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.

THE PAIN OF PROBLEMS V.9-12

DEPLORABLE EMPTINESS V.9

My eye mourns by reason of affliction:

DISREGARDED EFFORTS LORD

I have called daily on You, I have stretched out my hands to You.

DISTURBING EVIDENCE

DEAD PEOPLE DON’T RECORD YOUR AMAZING GRACE

Will You show wonders to the dead?

DEAD PEOPLE DON’T RESOUND YOUR ADORING GLORY  

will the dead arise and praise You? Selah.

DEAD PEOPLE DON’T REVEAL YOUR AWESOME GOOD

TENDERNESS V.11  

Shall Your loving kindness be declared in the grave?

TRUSTWORTHINESS

DURING DESTRUCTION    

in destruction?

DURING DARKNESS V.12

will Your wonders be known in the dark?

DURING DISILLUSIONMENT                                              

and Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

THE PERPLEXITY OF PAIN V.13-18

CONSISTENT CRYING V.13

But to You have I cried, O LORD;

CONCERTED CRYING

and in the morning will my prayer prevent You.

CONCENTRATED CRYING V.14-15

WHY DO YOU REJECT ME LORD

why cast You off my soul?

WHY DO YOU RUN FROM ME

why hide Your face from me?

WHY DO YOU RUIN ME

WITH DEVASTATING AFFLICTION V.15                            

I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up:

WITH DISTRACTING ANGUISH

while I suffer Your terrors I am distracted.

CONFUSING CONDITIONS V.16-18

I FEEL LIKE A WRETCH V.16

FILLED WITH TRAGEDY

Your fierce wrath goes over me;

FILLED WITH TERROR  

Your terrors have cut me off. 

I FEEL LIKE A WRECK V.17

SWALLOWED WITH A DELUGE 

They came round about me daily like water

SURROUNDED WITH DISASTER

they compassed me about together.

I FEEL LIKE A WASTE V.18

DISREGARDED

Lover and friend have You put far from me,

DEJECTED      

and mine acquaintance into darkness.