LHC Midday Word: PSALM Eighty Eight

A song.

A psalm of the Sons of Korah.

For the director of music.

According to mahalath leannoth.

A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.

Lord, you are the God who saves me;

day and night I cry out to you.

May my prayer come before you;

turn your ear to my cry.

I am overwhelmed with troubles

and my life draws near to death.

I am counted among those who go down to the pit;

I am like one without strength.

I am set apart with the dead,

like the slain who lie in the grave,

whom you remember no more,

who are cut off from your care.

You have put me in the lowest pit,

in the darkest depths.

Your wrath lies heavily on me;

you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.

You have taken from me my closest friends

and have made me repulsive to them.

I am confined and cannot escape;

my eyes are dim with grief.

I call to you, Lord, every day;

I spread out my hands to you.

Do you show your wonders to the dead?

Do their spirits rise up and praise you?

Is your love declared in the grave,

your faithfulness in Destruction?

Are your wonders known in the place of darkness,

or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

But I cry to you for help, Lord;

in the morning my prayer comes before you.

Why, Lord, do you reject me

and hide your face from me?

From my youth I have suffered and been close to death;

I have borne your terrors and am in despair.

Your wrath has swept over me;

your terrors have destroyed me.

All day long they surround me like a flood;

they have completely engulfed me.

You have taken from me friend and neighbour –

darkness is my closest friend.

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Word by Word Meditations

by Fred Ursell

Psalm 88: “confined” (v.17)

The worst pandemic for a century (Covid) swept the world early in 2019. Did you know the Spanish word for ‘lockdown’ is ‘confinamento’? Due to the enormous disruption in daily living, along with the physical health issue, there is psychological and emotional damage.

Though the Psalms were written centuries ago, similar feelings affected the writer, who felt trapped by circumstances: “I am confined and cannot escape” (v.8). His prayer was “you have put me … in the darkest depths … over-whelmed me with all your waves” (vv.6-7).

Feeling isolated? You’re not alone in that! Plus – Jesus is near!

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READINGS

PSALM 88

Read by Sir David Suchet