A song, a psalm written by the Korahites; for the music director; according to the machalath-leannoth style; a well-written song by Heman the Ezrachite.
This song was written by the Korahites, sometime between the years of King David and Nehemiah. It was written for the musical director of the Levitical choir. It was written to the “machalath-leannoth style”. “Machalath” means sickness. “Leannoth” means to humble or afflict. The Hebrew for “well-written song” is מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל (maskil), meaning a song of instruction.
The song was written by Heman the Ezrachite. Ezrachite means “wise.” Wisdom comes from studying Bible doctrine at the deepest level. When one applies Bible doctrine, the result is an attack of the satanic world which produces suffering. Those with strong Bible doctrine possess the wisdom to understand and endure the suffering.
88:1 O Lord God who delivers me! By day I cry out and at night I pray before you.
Ezrachite prayed day and night, asking God to deliver him from his suffering.
88:2 Listen to my prayer! Pay attention to my cry for help!
Ezrachite asked God to listen to his prayer and pay attention to his cry for help.
88:3 For my life is filled with troubles and I am ready to enter Sheol.
Ezrachite was about to die.
88:4 They treat me like those who descend into the grave. I am like a helpless man, 5 adrift among the dead, like corpses lying in the grave, whom you remember no more, and who are cut off from your power.
Ezrachite’s acquaintances were treating him as though he was dead.
88:6 You place me in the lowest regions of the pit, in the dark places, in the watery depths.
God had placed Ezrachite in the lowest pits.
88:7 Your anger bears down on me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. (Selah)
God was angry at Ezrachite. God’s wrath was too much for Ezrachite to bear.
88:8 You cause those who know me to keep their distance; you make me an appalling sight to them. I am trapped and cannot get free.
Ezrachite may had contracted leprosy. His acquaintances were keeping their distance from him. He was an appalling sight to others. He was trapped in this situation and could not escape.
88:9 My eyes grow weak because of oppression. I call out to you, O Lord, all day long; I spread out my hands in prayer to you.
Ezrachite was losing his eyesight. He was being oppressed. He called out in prayer to God all day long.
88:10 Do you accomplish amazing things for the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and give you thanks? (Selah)
Dead men cannot praise God or give thanks to God. Ezrachite asked the congregation to meditate and think about this biblical doctrine.
88:11 Is your loyal love proclaimed in the grave, or your faithfulness in the place of the dead?
Dead men in the grave cannot proclaim God’s loyal love to others.
88:12 Are your amazing deeds experienced in the dark region, or your deliverance in the land of oblivion?
Dead men in the grave cannot experience God’s amazing deeds on earth. They are not alive to tell others of what God has done.
88:13 As for me, I cry out to you, O Lord; in the morning my prayer confronts you.
Ezrachite asked God to answer his prayer.
88:14 O Lord, why do you reject me, and pay no attention to me?
Ezrachite wanted to know why he was being rejected by God.
88:15 I am oppressed and have been on the verge of death since my youth. I have been subjected to your horrors and am numb with pain.
Ezrachite had experienced this terrible situation (leprosy?) since youth.
88:16 Your anger overwhelms me; your terrors destroy me.
God’s anger was overwhelming and destroying Ezrachite.
88:17 They surround me like water all day long; they join forces and encircle me.
The troubles (or the enemies) surrounded Ezrachite all day long. These troubles (or enemies) joined forces and encircled him.
88:18 You cause my friends and neighbors to keep their distance; those who know me leave me alone in the darkness.
The neighbors and friends of Ezrachite would not go near him. They left him alone in his darkness. Some theologians consider this song as messianic, because it possibly deals with the prophetic suffering of the Messiah on the cross.