Psalms 87:0 ¶ A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah.
This psalm was written for the sons of Korah to sing in praise of Zion, the city of God.
Psalms 87:1 ¶ His foundation is in the holy mountains.
Psalms 87:2 The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
Psalms 87:3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
The psalmist notes that it is the Lord that established the foundation (the beginning) of the city of Zion in “the holy mountains.” In looking at the Hebrew, this seems to be referencing God’s sanctuary. It was after Solomon’s prayer of dedication at the temple that the LORD declared Jerusalem to be the city He chose as His own over all the other cities in Israel, His chosen possession among all the nations on earth.
1 Kings 9:3 “And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.”
1 Kings 11:36 “And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.”
2 Chronicles 6:5–6 “Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel: But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.”
Deuteronomy 7:6 “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”
The mountains of Zion are holy only because God designated them for His special purposes. The glorious things spoken of Zion would seem to fit with the reign of Solomon during which the temple was built and the nation was more prosperous than at any other time in its history.
I liked Guzik’s list identifying many “glorious things” carried out by God in Jerusalem:
· “Glorious faith was exercised in Jerusalem
· Glorious things happened in Jerusalem
· Glorious things were taught in Jerusalem
· Glorious worship was offered in Jerusalem
· Glorious atonement was made in Jerusalem
· Glorious anointing was poured out in Jerusalem
· God’s glorious presence was evident in Jerusalem
· A glorious future awaits Jerusalem”
“Selah” – a pause, an opportunity for meditation
Psalms 87:4 ¶ I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
The psalmist suddenly begins to make reference to the surrounding nations in which were born other men who “knew” God—Egypt (from Hebrew for “Rahab”), Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Ethiopia. The Hebrew for “know” allows for a wide possibility of interpretation, but I think the context is talking about those who had placed their faith in God. It would seem that these people are representative of all those from Gentile nations that would come to place their faith in God. From a spiritual perspective, they, too, can be considered with those born in Zion, the city of God, as His people.
Psalms 87:5 And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
Psalms 87:6 The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.
The psalmist notes that all those born (spiritual birth of faith) in Zion, the city of God, will be recorded as belonging to Him. In the millennium, that will include every person physically born in Zion.
I liked this application from Spurgeon: “What a patent of nobility is it, for a man to have it certified that he was born in Zion; the twice born are a royal priesthood, the true aristocracy, the imperial race of men.”
“Selah” – a pause, an opportunity for meditation
Psalms 87:7 As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.
“springs” – a source of satisfaction
In other words, the music of singers and instrumentalists will all recognize Zion as the source of their satisfaction in life. It is in Zion that the LORD Jesus will rule as King of kings in the glorious millennial kingdom.
I loved this quote from Spurgeon: “How truly does all our experience lead us to look to the Lord by faith and say, "all my fresh springs are in thee." The springs of my faith and all my graces; the springs of my life and all my pleasures; the springs of my activity and all its right doings; the springs of my hope, and all its heavenly anticipations, all lie in thee, my Lord. Without thy Spirit I should be as a dry well, a mocking cistern, destitute of power to bless myself or others. O Lord, I am assured that I belong to the regenerate whose life is in thee, for I feel that I cannot live without thee; therefore, with all thy joyful people will I sing thy praises.”
Psalms 88:0 ¶ A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.
It would seem that the author of this psalm is Heman the Ezrahite, more than likely one of the three chief musicians designated by David, though that cannot be proven by scripture. After looking at the Hebrew, I think “Mahalath Leannoth” identifies the tune to which it is to be sung. A “maschil” is a poem of instruction.
After reading through this psalm, it is hard to see how it can be instructive. I would equate it with the book of Job, except that the Psalmist expresses no hope or sense that he felt that God had heard him. Maybe it was meant to be a bookend to the next psalm authored by Ethan the Ezrahite (same family?) which is a great psalm of praise.
I think the most significant truth in this psalm is that the Psalmist knows that God is the answer to his need.
Spurgeon notes that “the sorrows of one saint are lessons to others,” and I think there is some truth to that for those that know the surrounding circumstances.
Psalms 88:1 ¶ O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
Psalms 88:2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
Psalms 88:3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
The Psalmist makes clear from the outset that he is a man of faith; he knows God as his Savior. He knows that God is his only hope. He notes that he has prayed day and night for the LORD to hear his prayer. His soul is greatly troubled, and he feels he is at the point of death.
Psalms 88:4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
Psalms 88:5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
The Psalmist feels helpless and that he is just as good as dead. He feels that God has abandoned him.
We are often tempted to feel abandoned when God doesn’t answer our prayers according to our expectation and/or timing. It is easy for us to forget that God’s ways are beyond our understanding when we are in despair…but I believe He allows us to get to that point for a purpose—to turn it to good according to His promise. He just wants us to keep the faith and trust Him no matter what. He has promised never to leave us or forsake us.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Psalms 88:6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
Psalms 88:7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.
The Psalmist is convinced that his affliction is a direct result of God’s hand against him, though he expresses no repentance for wrongdoing or any feelings of guilt. Verse 14 will affirm that he doesn’t understand why God’s hand would be against him. He compares his troubles to waves that flow one after another upon the shore.
Wise observation from Spurgeon: “…if faith could but be allowed to speak she would remind the depressed spirit that it is better to fall into the hand of the Lord than into the hands of man, and moreover she would tell the despondent heart that God never placed a Joseph in a pit without drawing him up again to fill a throne; that he never caused a horror of great darkness to fall upon an Abraham without revealing his covenant to him; and never cast even a Jonah into the deeps without preparing the means to land him safely on dry land. Alas, when under deep depression the mind forgets all this, and is only conscious of its unutterable misery….”
Selah – a pause, an opportunity for meditation
Psalms 88:8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
Not only does he feel that God has abandoned him, his friends and loved ones have abandoned him in disgust. Maybe he is suffering from a disease that disfigures and repulses people. He feels trapped in his condition with no way out.
Psalms 88:9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
The NLT: “My eyes are blinded by my tears. Each day I beg for your help, O LORD; I lift my pleading hands to you for mercy.”
There have been times when I could certainly empathize with these thoughts. In spite of his deep despair, his persistence in prayer shows that the Psalmist hasn’t completely given up hope that God will answer his prayers.
Psalms 88:10 ¶ Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.
Psalms 88:11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?
Psalms 88:12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
The Psalmist is basically saying that once he dies, he will no longer be able to praise God and witness to His faithfulness, lovingkindness and righteousness. This reminded me of the words of Hezekiah from my study of Isaiah.
Isaiah 38:18–19 “For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.”
Selah – a pause, an opportunity for meditation
Psalms 88:13 But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
The Psalmist notes that he begins each day seeking God’s face in prayer. He knows God is there despite the fact that his prayer has not been answered.
Psalms 88:14 Lord, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?
The Psalmist cannot understand why God is not answering his prayers. This indicates that he is unaware of having done something deserving of God’s judgment.
I think we can all identify with the Psalmist in this regard at times. Other times, we wonder at His mercy in light of our actions/inactions.
Psalms 88:15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
Sadly, the Psalmist seems to have suffered from his affliction since he was a young man. It makes me think of a chronic illness that gets increasingly worse over time.
“Thy terrors” expresses a mindset that considers God as the source of his affliction and despair.
Sadly, so many people who reject God do so because of perceived injustice at their own suffering or that of loved ones. They don't realize that sin is the true source of all disease. Had man not sinned, disease would never have entered the picture. It is true that God allows man to suffer the ongoing consequences of sin. For those that place their faith in and love Him, however, He has promised to work all things for good (as stated earlier). We may not ever know in this lifetime how that good is worked out, but we can be confident that He is faithful to His word.
Psalms 119:89 “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”
Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”
John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
Psalms 88:16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.
Psalms 88:17 They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
CJB: “Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me, your terrors have shriveled me up. They surge around me all day like a flood, from all sides they close in on me.”
Self-explanatory. The Psalmist sees no hope in sight.
Psalms 88:18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
The psalm ends on a note of deep despair. The Psalmist feels totally abandoned by God, loved ones and friends.
Interesting to note is that though in deep despair, Heman, like Job, does not accuse God of wrongdoing even though he doesn’t understand why God’s hand is against him. As the psalm ends, he is still talking to God in prayer—still acknowledging God’s sovereignty in his life.
MacDonald: “And so ends the saddest Psalm. If we wonder why it is in the Bible, we might listen to the testimony of J. N Darby. He said that at one time this was the only Scripture that was any help to him because he saw that someone had been as low as that before him.”
David Holwick: “First, Christians need to know that they can suffer. And it may seem like there's no end in sight. But this doesn't mean God no longer cares for you. Americans have the belief that happiness is an inalienable right. It's not. Happiness is a gift of God that we can't say we deserve. Sometimes in His wisdom, he will withhold it from us. So don't think your depression is always a sign that God has given up on you. It's a natural feeling for Christians….But the Bible says God has a purpose in everything that happens. Our struggle is to believe that through thick and thin, even when God seems very far away. It is all part of God's refining process. As A.W. Tozer said: ‘It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.’"