Update: Psalm 88 is attached to 1 Chronicles 24 & 25 post for the second round of Bible Book Club.
BACKGROUND
This is a new author in the book of Psalms: Heman. We read about him in 1 Chronicles 15:19; 16:41-42; 25:1, 6. He was a singer who sounded aloud the trumpets, lyres, harps, and cymbals of bronze along with Asaph, another author in this book. What talent!
This psalm is often called one of the saddest psalms in the whole Psalter. It is a petition to be saved from death and is the heart's cry of one who has suffered constantly. Most psalmists express hopeful expectation of God's deliverance after they pour out their heart but not this one. The psalter wants the Lord of His salvation to deliver him from death because he is unable to declare His glory if he is dead (1, 9b-12).
This poem is written in a Hebrew structure of three four-line stanzas (vv. 3-5, 6-9a, 9b-12) surrounded by two two-line prayers. Appended to this is an additional four-line stanza in which the psalmist summarizes that his present troubled condition is one he has had his whole life.
REFLECTION
This sounds so much like the story of Job; but even Job had a good life before and after his affliction. This poor guy sounds like things have always been really bad. My heart aches for him.
Heman suffered intensely, but He still continued to pray to the "God of [his] salvation." How unlike today where people turn their back on God when things go wrong. We recently watched a Mark Twain documentary by Ken Burns. After the death of one of his family members, the scholars said, "Twain ceased to believe in a benevolent God." While I have compassion for Mark Twain's loss, I don't get that sort of mentality. The reality is that life is not always happy and without sorrow and always involves loss, but it does not mean that our God has forsaken us nor ceased to be a benevolent God.
We can learn so much from Heman's psalm when our lives are filled with overwhelming sorrow. Here is a summary of what we can learn that is adapted from Be Worshipful by Warren Wiersbe:
Come to the Lord by Faith (vv. 1-2) - Heman comes to the "God of [his] salvation" and continues to address Him as His LORD throughout his prayer (vv. 1,9,13,14). Weirsbe says, "No matter how we feel and no matter how impossible our circumstances, we can always come to the Lord with our burdens."
Tell the Lord How You Feel (vv. 3-9) - Heman didn't sugar-coat it. Life was hard, and he was completely transparent with the Lord about his problems. We can be this way with God. It is not disrespectful to do so. Pour out your heart!
Defend Your Cause Before the Lord (vv. 10-14) - Hamen's argument is that his death will rob God of an opportunity to demonstrate His power and glory. He couldn't serve God in death. Could he? Keep praying transparently to God and pleading your case before Him.
Wait for the Lord's Answer (vv. 15-18) - This guy's pain was like Job's only more prolonged! He continued to wait and pray though. What an example of perseverance! Persevere in your trial, dear friend. God is good and will hear your pleas in the darkest times of life.
"Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:5).
"I would have despaired unless I had believed that
........... I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong, and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:13-14).
APPLICATION
If you are struggling, come to Him, tell Him how you really feel, defend your cause, and wait for His answer. Ask others to pray for you too.
PRAYER
Lord, You are the the God of our salvation, and we worship You in our struggle. We acknowledge that You are good and know what is best for us. Sometimes we do not understand why You have allowed us to struggle, but we trust in Your unfailing love. Help us to be strong through the sorrowful, struggling seasons of our life and to wait on Your perfect timing for deliverance. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen.
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