Psalms 88:1, A prayer containing a grievous complaint. Mahalath.
Bible Commentary
Psalms 88
Psalms 88 — Overview
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, and others · Public Domain
The Daily Devotional
One devotional. Every morning.
The full reading, the passage behind it, and where to go deeper — in your inbox before the day starts. No ads, ever.
We'll send one email to confirm it's really you. Unsubscribe in one tap, any time.
Continue tomorrow
Turn Bible study into a daily habit
Read today's devotional, save your progress, and receive a gentle daily reminder.
Recommended reading
More for Psalms 88
Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.
Other commentaries
Psalms 88 — OverviewPsalms 88 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThis psalm is a lamentation, one of the most melancholy of all the
psalms; and it does not conclude, as usually the melancholy psalms do,
with the least intimation of comfort or joy, but, from first to last,
it…Psalms 88 — OverviewPsalms 88 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleSong [or] Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. Of the word "maalath", See Gill on "Ps 53:1". "Leannoth" signifies "to answer". Perhaps this song was…Psalms 88:1-9Psalms 88:1-9 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleIt should seem, by the titles of this and the following psalm, that
Heman was the penman of the one and Ethan of the other. There were two,
of these names, who were sons of Zerah the son of Judah, 1 Chron. ii.…Psalms 88:1Psalms 88:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryO Lord God of my salvation. This is the one "word of trust," which some get rid of by an emendation. But the Septuagint supports the existing Hebrew text; and it is in harmony with the rest of Scripture. The saints of…Psalms 88:1Psalms 88:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryPersonal relations with God made a plea.
"O Lord God of my salvation." This has been called "the saddest of all the psalms." But it represents mental rather than spiritual distress. It belongs to such an age as that of…Psalms 88:1-18Psalms 88:1-18 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION
THE most mournful of all the psalms. After one almost formal "word of trust" (Psalms 88:1), the remainder is a continuous bitter cry of complaint, rising at times into expostulation (Psalms 88:10-12), and…