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The Saddest Psalm - Psalm 88
The Saddest Psalm - Psalm 88
Some periods of life seem like they go on forever and that God doesn't care, notice, or respond to our prayers. We have all had such periods. This is the only Psalm that doesn't end with a positive outcome and praise. The Psalmist begins 'in the pit' and never gets out.
He prays, but God doesn't answer. He has come to the end of his rope and all he can look forward to (considering his present situation), is death. Of course he asks WHY? (cp. vs. 14). He asks "will you..." (cp. 10, 11, 12). Perhaps he has done something that has brought the wrath of God (vs. 16), we simply don't know.
And THAT is the crux of this whole Psalm: we don't know, and neither did the Psalmist. He is troubled, perplexed, and distraught. He prays day after day (vs. 9, 13), yet his situation doesn't improve.
Then, the Psalm ends without resolution! Did God respond and 'save' him? Or, did God allow him to die (even as He did with James (Acts 11), Stephen (Acts 7), and other early Christian martyrs?
If we ONLY look at it from our perspective in this life, it looks hopeless. We, as Christians having the New Testament revelation, can begin quoting the many verses that give us assurance in death. We know that if a man dies in the Lord, he lives unto God and will experience the resurrection and eternal life. Such was not revealed clearly to those, like the Psalmist here, who lived in under the Old Testament.
The Psalmist may have never received a cheering resolution to his predicament while he lived. What to do? Pray and keep on praying, and continue to live according to God's word. What else CAN a godly man do? Give up? What does THAT accomplish? Renounce God and begin living a godless life? You still die, and THEN you will meet the wrath of God.
Yes, sometimes life and faith can be difficult. Such testing of our faith produces the proof of our faith "so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:7–9). Are you willing to keep trusting in God in the face of unanswered questions? Hugh DeLong
