Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.
This psalm pours forth grievous lamentations from one nearly at despair, yet even in deep darkness he calls upon God to deliver him, displaying an invincible steadfastness of faith. The occasion remains debated: some hold it the prayer of a leper isolated by the law, others the voice of captive Israel in chains, yet all agree it speaks the language of one whom God has struck down.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 88:1-18
Thy wrath lieth hard upon me. Dreadful plight this, the worst in which a man can be found. Wrath is heavy in itself; God's wrath is crushing beyond conception, and when that presses hard the soul is oppressed indeed. The wrath of God is the very hell of hell, and when it weighs upon the conscience a man feels a torment such as only that of damned spirits can exceed.
Before he utters a single complaint, he calls God the God of his salvation, the only words of comfort in all this psalm of clouds and darkness. This tells us he looked for salvation despite everything, and that he looked to God alone as its author. A man of prayer even in affliction, he had cried out earnestly, stretching his hands toward the Lord as one straining to catch hold of mercy itself.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 88:1-9