{"id":595,"date":"2012-03-18T06:54:16","date_gmt":"2012-03-18T13:54:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.teach4god.com\/OTS\/?p=595"},"modified":"2014-04-02T05:34:08","modified_gmt":"2014-04-02T12:34:08","slug":"psalm-88","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/2012\/03\/18\/psalm-88\/","title":{"rendered":"Psalm 88"},"content":{"rendered":"

Psalm 88<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

This is the last psalm written by a Korahite<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>. This particular Korahite\u00a0was Heman\u00a0the Ezrahite. He is either the grandson of Samuel (<\/span>1 Chronicles 6.33<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, <\/span>1 Chronicles 15.16-22<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, <\/span>1 Chronicles 25.5<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>) who served in solitude leading to the nation rejecting his father and wanting king Saul (cf. the studies from <\/span>1 Samuel 3<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, <\/span>1 Samuel 8.1\u20139<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>1 Samuel 10.23\u201325<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>). Or, he is from the tribe of Judah and served under Solomon (<\/span>I Kings 4.29-34<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>). It is believed\u00a0that he was stricken with leprosy. Either one serves well as their lives fit the psalm: rejected because of sin or rejected because of leprosy. For this post, the grandson of Samuel is chosen\u00a0as the best fit for the author in that he is a Korahite and a musician in David\u2019s service.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is written either to a known tune or to an instrument meant for gloom (Mahalath\u00a0Leannoth<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>). It is a contemplative song used for reflecting on the state of the nation or an individual (<\/span>Maskil<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This dirge is presented in four stanzas: Heman\u2019s plea (1-2), Heman\u2019s wrestle with death (3-7), Heman\u2019s wrestle with God (8-10), Heman\u2019s continuation with God (11-12), Heman\u2019s plea (13-18).<\/p>\n

Verses 1-2-Although this psalm is dark and without written hope, the ray of hope evidence in this and the closing stanza is the knowledge to go to God. Heman turns to God despite what is going on around him. As this psalm is read, we naturally think of the opening chapters of Job where he proclaims: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13.15<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Verses 3-7-In these verses, Heman gives testimony that it is God who has placed him in this situation. Whether it was by sin or sickness, God allowed Heman\u2019s circumstances to overcome him like a flood. This is the sovereignty of God.<\/p>\n

Selah<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>-When\u00a0we are faced with situations that are overwhelming us, do we acknowledge God\u2019s presence and power?<\/span><\/p>\n

Verses 8-10-Although verses 8-12 belong together, Heman\u00a0chose to ask us to pause at the end of verse ten, so we will divide these verses in two parts. He has been rejected by those around him either because of sin or because of sickness (leprosy). He feels as though he is about to die. Yet, he still calls to God each day.<\/p>\n

Selah<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>-How\u00a0tired of calling out to God do we get? Are we exasperated by the delay or the “no” we receive from God in our prayer? Some day I will post a study on prayer; until then, remain persistent. He does incline His ear toward us (1-2).<\/span><\/p>\n

Verses 11-12-Heman reminds God that the dead do not praise Him. We need to remember to state God\u2019s Word as part of our prayers.<\/p>\n

Verses 13-18-No matter the depth of anguish he is experiencing, Heman\u00a0returns to God and recognizes His hand in all things. He is never given a reprieve from his pain; thus, this psalm is considered the darkest in all 150 chapters of this book.<\/p>\n

Think of your darkest time, did you quit praying? Remember to focus on Him not on the circumstances.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Think of your darkest time, did you quit praying? Remember to focus on Him not on the circumstances.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,114],"tags":[150,119,89,26,60,79],"class_list":["post-595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","hentry","category-daily-studies","category-psalms","tag-chronicles","tag-job","tag-king","tag-remember","tag-research","tag-samuel","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=595"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/595\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1922,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/595\/revisions\/1922"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=595"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teach4god.com\/OTS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}