Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 88:1-18
LXXXVIII. A Leper’ s Prayer.— This Ps. has striking peculiarities. The suffering here portrayed has been long and terrible. The Psalmist has been tormented by sickness from his youth ( Psalms 88:15). Yahweh has “ put lover and friend away from him.” This seclusion was, no doubt, due to leprosy, which was a living death, separating a man from his dearest. The malady was supposed to come directly from God: it was His “ stroke” par excellence. The Psalmist mentions no enemies, he confesses no... read more
G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Psalms 88:1-18
This is a song sobbing with sadness form beginning to end. It seems to have no gleam of light or of hope. Commencing with an appeal to Jehovah to hear, it proceeds to describe the terrible sorrows through which the singer is passing. He is whelmed with trouble, and nigh unto death. Moreover he is alone; his acquaintances are put away from him. Death is a terrible outlook, for the singer sees no light in it. Therein God Himself will be unknown, and unable to succour. Again the song sings in... read more