Annotations Upon the Books of Poetry, Psalms · Psalm 88
PSALM LXXXVIII.
The Title. TO the chief Muſician, upon Mahalath Leannoth, &c.] See the Note on the Title Pſal. 53. of which what is there ſaid may be alſo ſaid here: Maſchil; ſee the Note on the Title Pſal. 32. of Heman the Ezrahite. There was one Heman, that was one of the three chief Singers, and who was likewiſe Davids Seer, as is before noted 1 Chron. 25.1.5, and therefore ſome conceive that he was the authour of this Pſalm, and his brother Ethan the authour of the following Pſalm. But why theſe ſhould be called Ezrahites, I find no clear reaſon given. And therefore others do rather conceive, that theſe were thoſe Heman and Ethan of the tribe of Judah mentioned 1 Chron. 2.6. & 1 Kings 4.31. for which ſee the Notes there.
Verſ. 5. Free among the dead, &c.] That is, I am as one amongſt the dead, free of that company, or free from all the cares and affairs of this life; as if he ſhould have ſaid, I am in a manner dead to the world: like the ſlain that lye in the grave; that is, and I have been brought into this condition by a violent hand, as thoſe that are ſlain in war; or, I am no more regarded, then thoſe that are ſlain in the warre, that are preſently tumbled into a pit, no man pitying them or being ſollicitous for them: whom thou remembreſt no more; that is, of whom thou takeſt no more care, to wit, for the things of this life: and they are cut off from thine hand; that is, from thy providence; thou doſt no more govern and protect them, nor diſpoſe of them, or provide for them, as thou doſt for living men. Yet ſome conceive that theſe words are uttered by the Pſalmiſt out of a diſtempered ſpirit, as one tranſported by paſſion through the extreme troubles and miſeries he was in. And ſome read the laſt clauſe, as it is in the margin, and they are cut off by thine hand; and ſo conceive that hereby the Pſalmiſt would imply, that he was as one that was cut off by a hand of divine juſtice.
Verſ. 6. Thou haſt layd me in the loweſt pit, &c.] That is, in the grave; ſee the Note Pſal. 86.13. and the ſame may be intended alſo in the following words, in darkneſſe, in the deeps. Yet ſome conceive that here he compares himſelf, & that with reſpect to his deſperate condition, and the many terrours that lay upon him, to a man that is caſt into a deep dungeon.
Verſ. 8. Thou haſt put away mine acquaintance far from me, &c.] See the Notes Job 19.13. and Pſal. 31.11: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth; that is, there is no hope of freeing my ſelf from the troubles I am in, ſee the Note Job 19.8. Yet ſome underſtand this literally of the Pſalmiſts impriſonment or baniſhment; or of his ſhutting up himſelf cloſe at home, as being overpreſſed with ſorrow and ſhame, to ſee how all men abhorred his company.
Verſ. 9. I have ſtretched out my hands unto thee.] See the Note Job 11.13.
Verſ. 10. Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? &c.] As if he ſhould have ſaid, Unleſſe help come preſently, I ſhall be paſt hope of praiſing thee: ſee the Notes Job 7.8, 9. Pſal. 6.5, and 30.9.
Verſ. 11. Shall thy loving kindneſſe be declared in the grave? &c.] See the Notes Job 26.6. and 28.22.
Verſ. 12. Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteouſneſſe in the land of forgetfulneſſe?] That is, in the grave, where the dead forget the living, the body lying there without all ſenſe or remembrance of any thing, ſee the Note Job 14.21. and where being laid they are in a manner quite forgotten by others, ſee the Notes Job 24.20. and Pſal. 31.12.
Verſ. 13. In the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.] That is, I will betimes ſeek unto thee, before extreme neceſſity conſtrains me thereto; or, early, even before thou cauſeſt the morning light to ſhine upon me.
Verſ. 18. Lover and friend haſt thou put far from me, &c.] See the Note above verſ. 8: and mine acquaintance into darkneſſe; that is, they hide themſelves from me; or, if they come where I am, they will not know me.