Psalms 88 — Jamieson–Fausset–Brown
88:1–2
1-2. Compare on the terms used, Psa 22:2; 31:2.
88:3
3. grave--literally, "hell" (Psa 16:10), death in wide sense.
88:4
4. go ... pit--of destruction (Psa 28:1). as a man--literally, "a stout man," whose strength is utterly gone.
88:5
5. Free ... dead--Cut off from God's care, as are the slain, who, falling under His wrath, are left, no longer sustained by His hand.
88:6
6. Similar figures for distress in Psa 63:9; 69:3.
88:7
7. Compare Psa 38:2, on first, and Psa 42:7, on last clause.
88:8
8. Both cut off from sympathy and made hateful to friends (Psa 31:11).
88:9
9. Mine eye mourneth--literally, "decays," or fails, denoting exhaustion (Psa 6:7; 31:9). I ... called--(Psa 86:5, 7). stretched out--for help (Psa 44:20).
88:10
10. shall the dead--the remains of ghosts. arise--literally, "rise up," that is, as dead persons.
88:11–12
11-12. amplify the foregoing, the whole purport (as Psa 6:5) being to contrast death and life as seasons for praising God.
88:13
13. prevent--meet--that is, he will diligently come before God for help (Psa 18:41).
88:14
14. On the terms (Psa 27:9; 74:1; 77:7).
88:15
15. from ... youth up--all my life.
88:16–17
16-17. the extremes of anguish and despair are depicted.
88:18
18. into darkness--Better omit "into"--"mine acquaintances (are) darkness," the gloom of death, c. (Job 17:13, 14).