Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Psalms 88
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Browse this work.
Psalms88:3
3. grave--literally, "hell" (Psa 16:10), death in wide sense.
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Psalms 88:3. Public domain.
Psalms88:4
4. go ... pit--of destruction (Psa 28:1).
as a man--literally, "a stout man," whose strength is utterly gone.
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Psalms 88:4. Public domain.
Psalms88:5
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.
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Psalms 88:5. Public domain.
Psalms88:6
6. Similar figures for distress in Psa 63:9; 69:3.
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Psalms 88:6. Public domain.
Psalms88:7
7. Compare Psa 38:2, on first, and Psa 42:7, on last clause.
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Psalms 88:7. Public domain.
Psalms88:8
8. Both cut off from sympathy and made hateful to friends (Psa 31:11).
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Psalms 88:8. Public domain.
Psalms88:9
9. Mine eye mourneth--literally, "decays," or fails, denoting exhaustion (Psa 6:7; 31:9).
I ... called--(Psa 86:5, 7).
stretched out--for help (Psa 44:20).
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Psalms 88:9. Public domain.
Psalms88:10
10. shall the dead--the remains of ghosts.
arise--literally, "rise up," that is, as dead persons.
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Psalms 88:10. Public domain.
Psalms88:11-12
11-12. amplify the foregoing, the whole purport (as Psa 6:5) being to contrast death and life as seasons for praising God.
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Psalms 88:11-12. Public domain.
Psalms88:13
13. prevent--meet--that is, he will diligently come before God for help (Psa 18:41).
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Psalms 88:13. Public domain.
Psalms88:14
14. On the terms (Psa 27:9; 74:1; 77:7).
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Psalms 88:14. Public domain.
Psalms88:15
15. from ... youth up--all my life.
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Psalms 88:15. Public domain.
Psalms88:16-17
16-17. the extremes of anguish and despair are depicted.
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Psalms 88:16-17. Public domain.
Psalms88:18
18. into darkness--Better omit "into"--"mine acquaintances (are) darkness," the gloom of death, &c. (Job 17:13, 14).
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Psalms 88:18. Public domain.
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Psalms88:1-2
PSALM 88
Psa 88:1-18. 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 Psa 5:1, Psa 22:1, and Psa 45:1, titles), denoting the subject--that is, "sickness or disease, for humbling," the idea of spiritual maladies being often represented by disease (compare Psa 6:5, 6; 22:14, 15, &c.). On the other terms, see on Psa 42:1 and Psa 32:1. Heman and Ethan (see on Psa 89:1, title) were David's singers (1Ch 6:18, 33; 15:17), of the family of Kohath. If the persons alluded to (1Ki 4:31; 1Ch 2:6), they were probably adopted into the tribe of Judah. Though called a song, which usually implies joy (Psa 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, Psa 22:2; 31:2.
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, Psalms 88:1-2. Public domain.
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