Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 88

1 O LORD God of my salvation , I have cried day and night before thee.

Who hast so often saved me from former distresses, and, I hope, wilst do so at this time.

3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.

Properly so called; for that he was under great troubles of mind from a sence of God's wrath and departure from him is evident from Verse 14. 13, 16.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word] with.

4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit : I am as a man that hath no strength.

I am given up by my Friends and Acquaintance for a lost man.

5 Free among the dead , like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou remembrest no more : and they are cut off from thy hand .

Well-nigh discharged from the warfare of the present life, and entred as a member into the society of the dead; as Israelitish servants when they were made free were thereby made Denisons of the Commonwealth of Israel. I expect no other freedom from my miseries▪ but that which death gives, as Iob observes, Iob 3. 17, 18.

Whom thou seemest wholly to neglect and to bury in oblivion: for he speaks of these matters not as they are in truth, for he knew very well that forgetfulness was not incident to God, and that God did remember all the dead, and would call them to an account, but only as to sence and appearance and the opinion of the World, and the state and things of this life.

From the care and conduct of thy providence. Which is to be understood as the former clause. Or by thy hand. But our translation seems better to agree both with the foregoing branch which it explains and improves, and with the order of the words; for it seems improper after he had represented the persons as dead, and in their graves, to add that they are cut off, to wit, by death.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word], [illegible: 1+ letters]y thy [illegible: 1 word] ▪

6 Thou hast laid me in † the lowest pit, * in darkness, in the deeps .

Either first in the grave; the same thing being expressed in divers words, or secondly in hopeless and remediless calamities.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. the pit [illegible: 1 word] places be [illegible: 1+ letters] ▪ [illegible: 1+ letters]2 143. 3.

7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves . Selah.

Either first the sence of thy wrath, or rather secondly the effects of it; as the next clause explains this.

With thy judgments, breaking in furiously upon me like the waves of the Sea.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1+ letters]2. 7.

8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me, thou hast made me an abomination unto them : I am shut up , and I cannot come forth.

I am so sad a spectacle of thy vengeance that my friends avoid and detest me, lest by conversing with me they should either be filled with terrors, which men naturally abhor; or be made partakers of my guilt or plagues.

Either in the pit or deep mentioned, v. 6. or in my own House or Chamber, being afraid or ashamed to go abroad.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] [illegible: 1+ letters]9. 13. [illegible: 1 word] 1[illegible: 1+ letters]2. 4.

9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction, LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee .

Understand, without effect: for thou dost not hear nor answer me.

10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead ? shall the dead arise and praise thee ! Selah.

To wit, in raising them to live again in this World, as it is in the next clause. I know that thou wilt not. And therefore now hear and help me, or it will be too late.

To wit, amongst mortal men in this World.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word] 6. 5.

11 Shall thy loving kindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction ?

I am not without hopes that thou hast a true kindness for me, and wilt faithfully perform thy gracious promises made to me and to all that love thee and call upon thee in truth. But then this must be done speedily, or I shall be utterly uncapable of such a mercy.

12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark ? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness ?

In the grave, which is called the land of darkness, Job 10. 21, 22.

In the grave so called, either first actively because there men forget and neglect all the concerns of this life, being indeed but dead carkasses without any sence or remembrance. Or rather secondly passively; because there men are forgotten, not only by men, as is noted, Iob 24. 20. Psal. 31. 12. but by God himself, as he complained, v. 5.

13. But unto thee have I cryed, O LORD, and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee .

i. e. Early come to thee before the ordinary time of Morning Prayer, or before the dawning of the Day, or the rising of the Sun. The sence is, Though I have hitherto got no answer to my Prayers, yet I will not give over praying nor hoping for an answer.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 89. 14. [illegible: 1 word] and Psal. [illegible: 1 word] 2.

14 LORD, why castest thou off my Soul? why hidest thou thy face from me !

This proceeding seems not to agree with the benignity of thy nature, nor with the manner of thy dealing with thy people.

15 I am afflicted and ready to die, from my youth up : while I suffer thy terrors , I am distracted.

My whole life hath been filled with a succession of deadly calamities. O Lord, take some pity upon me, and let me have a little breathing space before I die.

Upon my mind and conscience, which do accompany and aggravate my outward miseries.

Marginal references: Job 6. 4.

17 They came round about me daily, like water , they compassed me about together.

As the Waters of the Sea encompass him which is in the midst and bottom of it.

Marginal references: Or, all the day.

18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me , and mine acquaintance into darkness.

Of which see the note on v. 8.