John Trapp on Psalms 88:1

PSAL. LXXXVIII.

A Song or Pſalm] Pſalmus totus luctuoſus, a dolefull ditty beginning and ending with complaints; and therefore ſung in the primitive times, among other penitentiall Pſalms, at the publick confeſſion of perſons excommunicated.

Upon Mahalath Leannoth] A muſicall inſtrument ſounding heavily as a ſhaulm doth; and therefore called Infirmity, for humbling, or for Antiphonies. A fit title.

Maſchil of Heman the Ezrahite] i.e. The inſtruction of Heman, who was a very wiſe man, 1 King. 4.31. deſcended of Zerah the ſon of Judah, 1 Chron. 2.4. and thence called the Ezrahite, Brother to Ethan who penned the next Pſalm. 1 Chron. 2.6. Nobile par fratrum.

Verſ. 1. O Lord God of my ſalvation] This is the only one expreſſion of his faith found in this whole Pſalm; and it muſt be underſtood that he thus beleeved and prayed, as here, and verſe 2, when he was at worſt, and moſt deſpairingly complained.

I have cryed day and night before thee] Though in ſuch a ſtate as they were, Act. 27.20. when neither Sun nor Star appeared, yet he caſt anchor, and prayed ſtill for day.