PSALM 88
. Upon Mahalath—either an instrument, as a lute,
to be used as an accompaniment (Leannoth, "for singing")
or, as others think, an enigmatic title (see on , Psalms 88:2, and Psalms 88:2, titles), denoting the subject—that is, "sickness or
disease, for humbling," the idea of spiritual maladies being
often represented by disease (compare Psalms 6:5;
Psalms 6:6; Psalms 22:14;
Psalms 22:15, c.). On the other
terms, see on Psalms 88:4 and Psalms 88:4. Heman and Ethan (see on Psalms 88:4, title) were David's singers (1 Chronicles 6:18
1 Chronicles 6:33; 1 Chronicles 15:17),
of the family of Kohath. If the persons alluded to (1 Kings 4:31;
1 Chronicles 2:6), they were probably
adopted into the tribe of Judah. Though called a song, which usually
implies joy (Psalms 83:1), both the
style and matter of the Psalm are very despondent; yet the appeals to
God evince faith, and we may suppose that the word "song"
might be extended to such compositions.
3. grave—literally, "hell"
(Psalms 16:10), death in wide
sense.
4. go . . . pit—of destruction
(Psalms 28:1).
as a man—literally, "a
stout man," whose strength is utterly gone.
5. Free . . . dead—Cut off
from God's care, as are the slain, who, falling under His wrath, are
left, no longer sustained by His hand.
7. Compare , on first, and Psalms 42:7,
on last clause.
8. Both cut off from sympathy
and made hateful to friends ().
10. shall the dead—the remains
of ghosts.
arise—literally, "rise
up," that is, as dead persons.
11, 12. amplify the foregoing,
the whole purport (as Psalms 6:5)
being to contrast death and life as seasons for praising God.
13. prevent—meet—that is, he
will diligently come before God for help ().
15. from . . . youth up—all my
life.
16, 17. the extremes of anguish
and despair are depicted.
18. into darkness—Better omit
"into"—"mine acquaintances (are) darkness," the
gloom of death, c. (Job 17:13
Job 17:14).
PSALM 88
. Upon Mahalath—either an instrument, as a lute, to be used as an accompaniment (Leannoth, "for singing") or, as others think, an enigmatic title (see on , Psalms 88:2, and Psalms 88:2, titles), denoting the subject—that is, "sickness or disease, for humbling," the idea of spiritual maladies being often represented by disease (compare Psalms 6:5; Psalms 6:6; Psalms 22:14; Psalms 22:15, c.). On the other terms, see on Psalms 88:4 and Psalms 88:4. Heman and Ethan (see on Psalms 88:4, title) were David's singers (1 Chronicles 6:18 1 Chronicles 6:33; 1 Chronicles 15:17), of the family of Kohath. If the persons alluded to (1 Kings 4:31; 1 Chronicles 2:6), they were probably adopted into the tribe of Judah. Though called a song, which usually implies joy (Psalms 83:1), both the style and matter of the Psalm are very despondent; yet the appeals to God evince faith, and we may suppose that the word "song" might be extended to such compositions.
1, 2. Compare on the terms used, Psalms 22:2; Psalms 31:2.
3. grave—literally, "hell" (Psalms 16:10), death in wide sense.
4. go . . . pit—of destruction (Psalms 28:1).
as a man—literally, "a stout man," whose strength is utterly gone.
5. Free . . . dead—Cut off from God's care, as are the slain, who, falling under His wrath, are left, no longer sustained by His hand.
6. Similar figures for distress in Psalms 63:9; Psalms 69:3.
7. Compare , on first, and Psalms 42:7, on last clause.
8. Both cut off from sympathy and made hateful to friends ().
9. Mine eye mourneth—literally, "decays," or fails, denoting exhaustion (Psalms 6:7; Psalms 31:9).
I . . . called— (Psalms 86:5; Psalms 86:7).
stretched out—for help (Psalms 44:20).
10. shall the dead—the remains of ghosts.
arise—literally, "rise up," that is, as dead persons.
11, 12. amplify the foregoing, the whole purport (as Psalms 6:5) being to contrast death and life as seasons for praising God.
13. prevent—meet—that is, he will diligently come before God for help ().
14. On the terms (Psalms 27:9; Psalms 74:1; Psalms 77:7).
15. from . . . youth up—all my life.
16, 17. the extremes of anguish and despair are depicted.
18. into darkness—Better omit "into"—"mine acquaintances (are) darkness," the gloom of death, c. (Job 17:13 Job 17:14).