Psalm 88 - 4/13/2025 Sunday PM Study

The Tabernacle Today

Content provided by The Tabernacle Today. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by The Tabernacle Today or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://staging.podcastplayer.com/legal.

2M ago 31:06

MP3•Episode home

Psalm 88 Worksheet

One of the most interesting things about this Psalm and the next is that they are written by 2 men named Heman the Ezrahite and Ethan the Ezrahite.

Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were each descendants of Levi’s sons Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Asaph was from Gershon; Heman from the line of Kohath; Ethan from Merari (1 Chr. 6:31-48). Heman has the added distinction of being the grandson of _______________________ (1 Chr. 6:33).

Asaph wrote 12 Psalms, 11 here in book 3 of the Psalms; Heman wrote Psalm 88 and Ethan wrote Psalm 89. So 13 of the 17 Psalms of Book 3 are attributed to David’s key music leaders from the tribe of Levi.

The tone of Psalm 88 is very much one of _____________________________. It appears the Psalmist is facing suffering and death is very discouraged. It is not regarded as a Messianic Psalm, but several verses remind me of the suffering Jesus endured.

As I read Psalm 88, look for the different ways death is referred to. Also look for the 3 times he speaks of calling out or crying out to the LORD.

A man _______________________ death cries out to the LORD V. 1-9

This man is despondent, but at least he is __________________________.

Be honest with God in your prayers like in Psalm 88, and then go on to the kind of perspective that Psalm ____________ gives!

The first reference to death is in verse 3, the word grave or Sheol. Sheol occurs 64 times in the Old Testament.

The second reference to death is in verse 4, the word pit or bor. Bor occurs 61 times in the Old Testament.

The third reference to death is in verse 5, “adrift among the dead.” The word for dead is mut, which occurs 693 times in the Old Testament.

The sixth and seventh references to death are the words darkness and depths in verse 6.

The word “wrath” in verse 7 reminds me of when Jesus was bearing our sin on the cross and cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me” (2 Cor. 5:21; John 3:36).

Verse 8 reminds me of Jesus “shut up” on the cross, with so many of His followers not there to support Him. Jesus can identify with the Psalmist and any of us who feels neglected or forsaken by _____________.

Verses 1 and 9 begin and end the first section by crying out to the LORD in the midst of this man facing death.

A man ______________________ death cries out to the LORD V. 11-18

Verses 10-12 feature 6 questions that it appears the Psalmist fears the answer is no but Christians now know the answer is ________________ in Christ!

Let’s not forget our count of references to death – verses 10-12 have the eighth through ________________ references to death!

Verse 13 gives the one note of hope that after death, the “___________________________” will come. We borrow that hope from this being near to Psalm 86 by David.

“I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” -Psalm 86:11-12

Back in Psalm 88, the Psalmist wants to know, he wants to feel what David feels and __________________ in Psalm 86, but he is on the struggle bus. Verses 15 to the end make that struggle clear.

Verse 15 gives us at least the 14th reference to death. With other references to being “cut off”, “wrath” and “terrors,” we may get all the way to ________________ references to death.

Why is this discouraging Psalm in the Psalter, meant to be sung by the people? Sometimes getting the way we feel out there begins the ___________________________. Psalm 88 is like parts of the book of Ecclesiastes, that really describe the emptiness in life without God. Ecclesiastes brings to despair to then drive to faith in God (Ecc. 12:13-14). Psalm 89 does that for book 3 of of the Psalms. After the discouraging note of Psalm 88, Psalm 89 includes this thought to God’s people when they feel discouraged:

Nevertheless My lovingkindness I will not utterly take from him, nor allow My faithfulness to fail. -Psalm 89:33

528 episodes

#Religion #Guest Speakers #Dr. Danny Campbell #Christianity

Psalm 88 - 4/13/2025 Sunday PM Study

The Tabernacle Today

published 2M ago