9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, Lord, every day; I spread out my hands to you.
9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
9 my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call upon you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you.
9 blinded by tears of pain and frustration. I call to you, God; all day I call. I wring my hands, I plead for help.
9 My eye wastes away because of affliction. Lord, I have called daily upon You; I have stretched out my hands to You.
9 My eyes are blinded by my tears. Each day I beg for your help, O Lord ; I lift my hands to you for mercy.
10 Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do their spirits rise up and praise you?
10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.
10 Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise you? Selah
10 Are the dead a live audience for your miracles? Do ghosts ever join the choirs that praise you?
10 Will You work wonders for the dead? Shall the dead arise and praise You? Selah
10 Are your wonderful deeds of any use to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you? Interlude
(Read Psalm 88:10-18)
Departed souls may declare God's faithfulness, justice, and lovingkindness; but deceased bodies can neither receive God's favours in comfort, nor return them in praise. The psalmist resolved to continue in prayer, and the more so, because deliverance did not come speedily. Though our prayers are not soon answered, yet we must not give over praying. The greater our troubles, the more earnest and serious we should be in prayer. Nothing grieves a child of God so much as losing sight of him; nor is there any thing he so much dreads as God's casting off his soul. If the sun be clouded, that darkens the earth; but if the sun should leave the earth, what a dungeon would it be! Even those designed for God's favours, may for a time suffer his terrors. See how deep those terrors wounded the psalmist. If friends are put far from us by providences, or death, we have reason to look upon it as affliction. Such was the calamitous state of a good man. But the pleas here used were peculiarly suited to Christ. And we are not to think that the holy Jesus suffered for us only at Gethsemane and on Calvary. His whole life was labour and sorrow; he was afflicted as never man was, from his youth up. He was prepared for that death of which he tasted through life. No man could share in the sufferings by which other men were to be redeemed. All forsook him, and fled. Oftentimes, blessed Jesus, do we forsake thee; but do not forsake us, O take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 88:9
Commentary on Psalm 88:1-9
(Read Psalm 88:1-9)
The first words of the psalmist are the only words of comfort and support in this psalm. Thus greatly may good men be afflicted, and such dismal thoughts may they have about their afflictions, and such dark conclusion may they make about their end, through the power of melancholy and the weakness of faith. He complained most of God's displeasure. Even the children of God's love may sometimes think themselves children of wrath and no outward trouble can be so hard upon them as that. Probably the psalmist described his own case, yet he leads to Christ. Thus are we called to look unto Jesus, wounded and bruised for our iniquities. But the wrath of God poured the greatest bitterness into his cup. This weighed him down into darkness and the deep.