[4] I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
Counted — l am given up by my friends for a lost man.
[5] Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
Free — Well nigh discharged from the warfare of the present life, and entered as a member into the society of the dead.
Whom — Thou seemest to neglect and bury in oblivion.
[7] Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. /*Selah*/.
Waves — With they judgments, breaking in furiously upon me like the waves of the sea.
[10] Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? /*Selah*/.
Wonders — In raising them to life.
To praise thee — In this world?
[12] Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Forgetfulness — In the grave, where men are forgotten by their nearest relations.
[13] But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
Prevent — Come to thee before the dawning of the day, or the rising of the sun.
[17] They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
Water — As the waters of the sea encompass him who is in the midst of it.
Psalm 88 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 4
[4] I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
Counted — l am given up by my friends for a lost man.
Verse 5
[5] Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
Free — Well nigh discharged from the warfare of the present life, and entered as a member into the society of the dead.
Whom — Thou seemest to neglect and bury in oblivion.
Verse 7
[7] Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. /*Selah*/.
Waves — With they judgments, breaking in furiously upon me like the waves of the sea.
Verse 10
[10] Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? /*Selah*/.
Wonders — In raising them to life.
To praise thee — In this world?
Verse 12
[12] Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Forgetfulness — In the grave, where men are forgotten by their nearest relations.
Verse 13
[13] But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
Prevent — Come to thee before the dawning of the day, or the rising of the sun.
Verse 17
[17] They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
Water — As the waters of the sea encompass him who is in the midst of it.