3 For my soul hath been full of evils, And my life hath come to Sheol. 4 I have been reckoned with those going down 'to' the pit, I have been as a man without strength. 5 Among the dead—free, As pierced ones lying in the grave, Whom Thou hast not remembered any more, Yea, they by Thy hand have been cut off. 6 Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in depths. 7 Upon me hath Thy fury lain, And 'with' all Thy breakers Thou hast afflicted. Selah. 8 Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me, Thou hast made me an abomination to them, Shut up—I go not forth.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 88:3-8
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.