“LORD, God of my salvation, I cry out before You day and night. May my prayer reach your presence; listen to my cry” (Ps 88:1-2).
When a psalm is as raw as the feelings you feel, this psalm is it:
- “I have had enough troubles, and my life is near Sheol” (Ps 88:3)
- “I am like the slain lying in the grave whom You no longer remember” (Ps 88:5)
- “You have distanced my friends from me” (Ps 88:8)
- “I call to you for help, Lord…Lord, why do you reject me?” (Ps 88:16)
- “You have distanced loved one and neighbor from me” (Ps 88:18)
- “Darkness is my only friend” (Ps 88:18)
It is not a happy time for the writer of the psalmist, a son of Korah is miserable. He feels like God doesn’t care and has forgotten him. He is alone and his only friend is darkness. He pleads to God to do something. To listen. And he doesn’t feel like God is doing that.
And it’s interesting how he goes on. When modern day folk plead to God for answered prayer, it’s almost always with a bargain of “if you answer my prayer, I will serve you the rest of my life.”
But how does this psalmist and others plead with God?
They point out that if God doesn’t answer, they will go to the grave. And who will praise God from the grave if they die Who will tell others of God’s faithfulness if they are no more on this earth?
It made me think sometimes (read: “oftentimes”) it is so easy to forget to praise him, or tell of his wonders and faithfulness to others. We get caught up in work and doing our jobs and just trying to make it from one day to the next. Piece enough days together and maybe will get there.
But it could be said of us that if we died there would be so much less praise of Him on the earth? That if we were to pass way it would leave a serious void of someone declaring his faithfulness to others?
