DARKNESS-Psalm 88

Video (1/19/25): DARKNESS (Psalm 88). 

Prayer: Psalm 13:1-6.

No sadder psalm. Psalm 88 is regarded as the saddest psalm, the most desolate of all 150 psalms. It is considered the most despairing and bleak passage in the Bible with its themes of unrelenting darkness, suffering, agony, helplessness, even hopelessness, due to the apparent absence of God. It is a profound expression of anguish and despair. It has no uplifting or hopeful themes like many other psalms. Yet it is significant as an individual lament psalm where the psalmist knows nothing but sorrow and agony. But even in the darkness of his grief he turns to God for deliverance (Ps 88:1).

The bleakest of all the prayers in the psalms. Psalm 88 is written by one who is ill for a long time, friendless, near to death and ends in darkness (Ps 88:18), in contrast to most psalms that end with a note of confidence or praise (Ps 13:1-2, 5-6; 22:1-2, 30-31). It is a “psalm without hope,” a poignant, unrelenting and intense lament, expressing deep distress, despair, anguish and a profound sense of abandonment. He pours out his soul in a raw and honest prayer. He describes his overwhelming suffering, both outward and inward, his physical and emotional afflictions, and a feeling of profound darkness and of being forsaken by both God and human companions. Throughout the psalm, he questions God’s apparent absence and the purpose of his afflictions. The tone remains bleak, and the psalm concludes with a sense of isolation, loneliness, despair and darkness, making it a most somber and desolate psalm. Unlike many other psalms of lament, Psalm 88 lacks a clear resolution or expression of hope, highlighting the raw and unremitting nature of the psalmist’s suffering.

Hoping without hope. The psalmist has almost given up on God, but not completely, as he still prays and hopes that God will save him from his predicament. But it is still a prayer as the psalmist continues to turn to God to voice his anguish and call for help. It is a model prayer for anyone who seems to have met with silence from God.

Skip it? Psalm 88 is skipped over by most pastors, who prefer Bible passages that are full of singing God’s praises and speaking of God’s goodness. But Psalm 88 does the very opposite! The author of this psalm does not speak of God positively at all. In fact, he is blaming and accusing God for his life situation, being quite sarcastic, questioning God’s goodness, and more or less rebuking God out of his anguish and frustration! It is one of the rawest, most insightful, and most human chapters of the Bible. And it is absolutely beautiful, and even strangely comforting.

Outline [No Comfort, No Hope and No Answers] [The darkness deepens. The darkest depths. Darkness is my closest friend. Darkness without light; trust without hope. A prayer in the darkness of despair. The darkness of the soul: patient faith, faithful patience. A petition to be saved from death. A cry from the grave. A cry of pain and sorrow. A desperate prayer from deep affliction. A sermon for sufferers. How to deal with dark times. Facing the deepest darkness of despair and abandonment. The hidden God as the hostile God.]:

1. Life without Comfort (Ps 88:1-9). Complaints against God’s action.
2. Death without Hope (Ps 88:10-12). Challenges to God’s wisdom.
3. Questions without Answers (Ps 88:13-18). Charges against God’s conduct.

While still praying and crying out to God to save him (Ps 88:1, 9, 13), the psalmist’s existential reality is as follows:

1. Sleepless (Ps 88:1-2).
2. Overwhelmed (Ps 88:3-5).
3. Ruined (Ps 88:6-9).
4. Dying (Ps 88:10-12).
5. Rejected (Ps 88:13-14).
6. Darkness (Ps 88:15-18).

Questions:

• Can you live a life without comfort (1-9)?
• Can you die without hope (10-12)?
• Can you live with questions without answers (13-18)?
• Can you live when there is no light at the end of the tunnel?
• Can you go on trusting God when you feel abandoned by God (and friends)?
• Can you live by faith when the future seems dark and bleak?
• Can you express raw, honest emotions of anger and frustration towards God during difficult times? Or just be thankful?

1. Who is God to this psalmist (Ps 88:1a)? Despite feeling abandoned, what does he do (Ps 88:1b-2, 9, 13)? Does God hear those who cry out to him in desperation (Lk 18:7-8)?
2. What is going on with his life (Ps 88:3)? Did he have hope of life after death (Ps 88:4-5. 10-12; 6:5; 30:9)? Is God present even in your lowest moments of life (Jon 2:6)?
3. Who is he blaming for his predicament (Ps 88:6-7, 8, 15, 16-17)? Should you accuse God for your troubles, trials and tribulations? Can unrelieved suffering be the lot of a true believer?
4. Does God answer his cry of desperation (Ps 88:13-14)? Despite feeling unheard what can you learn about his repeated cries to God? Do you expect God to answer you in your distress?
5. How long has the psalmist been suffering (Ps 88:15)? What does he identify as the cause and its effect (Ps 88:16-17)?
6. In contrast with most laments ending with an expression of confidence or even praise, what can you learn from this psalm ending on a dismal note with darkness as the final word (Ps 88:18; 1 Pet 4:12)?
   • How might this psalm be of help those who are suffering (Ps 34:18; Job 1:9; Rom 12:15; Gal 6:2)?

How does Psalm 88 point to Jesus?

• Ps 88:8; Mt 26:56; Lk 23:49.
• Ps 88:7, 16; Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34.
• Ps 88:10. Jn 11:25-26.
• Ps 88:18; Mt 26:38; Mk 14:34; Lk 22:44.

What can Psalm 88 teach you?

• “Psalm 88 teaches us that it’s okay to be honest with God about our pain and suffering. We don’t have to pretend that everything is okay when it’s not. God can handle our doubts, our questions, and our despair.” Matthew Henry.
• “In Psalm 88, the writer refuses to bow to divine abandonment. He refuses to accept that even in God’s absence, he is alone. In this refusal, he gives voice to the desperation of the human soul and reminds us that faith does not always come with easy answers or quick relief.” Barbara Brown Taylor.
• “Psalm 88 teaches us that the life of faith does not guarantee an escape from the deepest darkness. The psalmist cries out to God from the depths of despair, modeling for us how to pour out our hearts to God even in our darkest moments.” Tim Keller.
• “God is present in our pain, even when we cannot sense His presence.” Eugene Peterson.
• “The darkness of Psalm 88 confronts us with the harsh reality of the human condition: suffering, abandonment, and unanswered prayers. Yet, even in the midst of despair, the psalmist clings to God, refusing to let go of hope. This is the paradox of faith – to hold on to God’s promises even when they seem distant or elusive.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
• “Psalm 88 is a stark reminder that faith does not guarantee immunity from suffering.” Henri Nouwen.
• “In this psalm, Heman makes a map of his life’s history. He puts down all the dark places through which he has travelled. He mentions his sins, his sorrows, his hopes (if he has any), his fears, his woes, and so on. Now that is real prayer, laying your case before the Lord.” Spurgeon.
• “From beginning to end there is no trace of bitterness, no desire for revenge on enemies, no angry reflections on the goodness of God. Rather, the references to God reveal a remarkable sense of his grace and goodness.” G. Campbell Morgan.
• “But go to him when your need is desperate, and all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that silence.” C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed.

References:

• Tim Keller. 2015.  The darkest depths (1-9). Satan defeated (10-18).
• Derek Kidner. 1975. Psalm 88: The Darkness Deepens.

1. 1. Sleepless entreaty (Ps 88:1-2).
   2. Encroaching shadows (Ps 88:3-9).
   3. Unanswered cry (Ps 88:10-18).

• Alec Motyer. 2016. Psalm 88: Darkness without Light; Trust without Hope.
  • A1. [“I”] Persistent prayer when life ends without hope (Ps 88:1-5).
    • B1. [“You”] Friendless, under wrath (Ps 88:6-9).
  • A2. [“I”] Persistent prayer facing death without hope (Ps 88:10-12).
    • B2. [“You”] Friendless, under wrath (Ps 88:13-18).
• Longman III & Garland. Psalms. 2008. Psalm 88. A Prayer in the Darkness of Despair.

• • A. Prayer for Help (Ps 88:1-2).
    • B. The Experience of Dying in Life (Ps 88:3-5).
  • A’. Prayer for Help (Ps 88:9-12).
    • • C. It is the Lord’s Doing (Ps 88:6-9a).
      • C’. It is the Lord’s Doing (Ps 88:13-14).
    • B’. The Experience of Dying (Ps 88:15-18).
• Titles: A Cry of Pain and Sorrow. A Sermon for Sufferers.
• Affliction, Adversity, Anxiety and Anguish is Good for Me.

Heman is mentioned 16 times: 1 Ki 4:31, 14 times in 1 and 2 Chron and in the title of Psalm 88. He is a wise, talented, respected and accomplished man.

The dark night of the soul. Psalm 88 is often closely associated with the concept of the “dark night of the soul“ in Christian spirituality, as it depicts a profound state of despair, anguish, and feeling completely abandoned by God, mirroring the experience of feeling disconnected from divine presence during this spiritual crisis. The dark night of the soul is a period of suffering and disorientation that can be a part of spiritual growth, for the soul must be emptied of its desires and imperfections in order to be cleansed and united with God. Some say that during this time, people may cling to things they fear losing, rather than because they love them. Others say that the dark night of the soul is a time when people should be patient with themselves and not try to explain it to others.

• Thematic similarity: Psalm 88 is filled with imagery of darkness, crying out to God without apparent response, and a sense of deep suffering, which aligns with the “dark night of the soul” experience where one feels immersed in spiritual darkness and questions God’s presence. 
• No relief offered: Unlike many other Psalms that often end with a note of hope, Psalm 88 concludes with a sense of unrelieved despair, further reinforcing the feeling of being in a deep spiritual valley. 
• A space for lament: This Psalm is considered a powerful expression of honest lament and raw emotion, allowing believers to voice their deepest struggles and doubts to God, even when experiencing a “dark night.”

Titles for Psalm 88–known for its raw expression of deep despair and suffering:

1. Who is God to the psalmist (Ps 88:1-2)?
2. (Ps 88:3-5)?
3. Who did he blame for his predicament (Ps 88:6-9)?
4. How was he treated by his friends (Ps 88:8, 18)?
5. How did he respond to his difficult situation (Ps 88:9, 13)?
6. Was he asking God sarcastic rhetorical questions (Ps 88:10-12)? From what might he need to be saved?
7. Why did he question the Lord (Ps 88:13-14)?
8. How does he describe his life (Ps 88:15-17)? Was he exagerrating?
9. What does Psalm 88:18 suggest about God?