The Torment of Death: Psalm 88
“1) O Lord, the God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and in the night before You. 2) Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry! 3) For my soul has had enough troubles, And my life has drawn near to Sheol. 4) I am reckoned among those who go down to the pit; I have become like a man without strength, 5) Forsaken among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom You remember no more, And they are cut off from Your hand. 6) You have put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in the depths. 7) Your wrath has rested upon me, And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah.” Psalms 88:1-7
This is a troubling Psalm. The deeper you read, the worse it becomes.
At first glance, it looks like it was written by a godly man overcome by trials and sorrow. But upon closer examination, it is much more tragic. It is far more horrifying.
It was written by a dying man who believed in God, but had no personal relationship with Him. It was written by a religious man facing death with no assurance of personal salvation.
The torment is huge. His soul is being torn. Satan has him wrapped in guilt and condemnation. He is isolated and alone having been abandoned by all friends.
This is the way most people face death. Unlike David in Psalm 23, passing through valley of the shadow of death is horrifying! It is soul wrenching.
Jesus came to defeat the enemy of death. He came to die on the cross and pay for our sins. He came to make faith in His finished work the cross on our behalf and not our personal goodness or works the basis of our salvation!
Think about it, if salvation and assurance of salvation were earned by your own righteousness or good works, at what point can you have confidence that you have done enough? When can you say; “I have arrived?” Or; “God has accepted me?”
The answer is: Never! Welcome to Psalm 88 and the anguish of being religious but dying with no assurance of salvation. Welcome to the death pangs of facing a Christ-less eternity. Welcome to eternal torment.
Suddenly, the gospel comes into focus. Suddenly, Jesus being the way, the truth and life is understandable. Suddenly, being born-again through personal saving faith in Jesus Christ exposes the futility of every system of religion based on self works or personal goodness. Suddenly, Psalm 88 is replaced by Psalm 23 for those walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“1) O Lord, the God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and in the night before You. 2) Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry! 3) For my soul has had enough troubles, And my life has drawn near to Sheol. 4) I am reckoned among those who go down to the pit; I have become like a man without strength, 5) Forsaken among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom You remember no more, And they are cut off from Your hand. 6) You have put me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in the depths. 7) Your wrath has rested upon me, And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah.” Psalms 88:1-7
This is a troubling Psalm. The deeper you read, the worse it becomes.
At first glance, it looks like it was written by a godly man overcome by trials and sorrow. But upon closer examination, it is much more tragic. It is far more horrifying.
It was written by a dying man who believed in God, but had no personal relationship with Him. It was written by a religious man facing death with no assurance of personal salvation.
The torment is huge. His soul is being torn. Satan has him wrapped in guilt and condemnation. He is isolated and alone having been abandoned by all friends.
This is the way most people face death. Unlike David in Psalm 23, passing through valley of the shadow of death is horrifying! It is soul wrenching.
Jesus came to defeat the enemy of death. He came to die on the cross and pay for our sins. He came to make faith in His finished work the cross on our behalf and not our personal goodness or works the basis of our salvation!
Think about it, if salvation and assurance of salvation were earned by your own righteousness or good works, at what point can you have confidence that you have done enough? When can you say; “I have arrived?” Or; “God has accepted me?”
The answer is: Never! Welcome to Psalm 88 and the anguish of being religious but dying with no assurance of salvation. Welcome to the death pangs of facing a Christ-less eternity. Welcome to eternal torment.
Suddenly, the gospel comes into focus. Suddenly, Jesus being the way, the truth and life is understandable. Suddenly, being born-again through personal saving faith in Jesus Christ exposes the futility of every system of religion based on self works or personal goodness. Suddenly, Psalm 88 is replaced by Psalm 23 for those walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
