Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? Will Your loving devotionThe phrase "loving devotion" is translated from the Hebrew word "chesed," which is a rich term encompassing love, kindness, mercy, and covenant loyalty. In the context of the Psalms, "chesed" often refers to God's steadfast love and faithfulness to His covenant people. The psalmist is questioning whether this divine attribute can be experienced or acknowledged in death, highlighting the desperation and isolation felt in the grave. This reflects a deep yearning for God's presence and assurance, even in the darkest moments of life. be proclaimed
The Hebrew root for "proclaimed" is "saphar," which means to recount, declare, or tell. This word suggests an active, vocal expression of God's attributes. The psalmist is pondering the possibility of declaring God's loving devotion in the realm of the dead, emphasizing the belief that such proclamation is meant for the living. This underscores the importance of life as the arena for worship and testimony of God's goodness. in the grave
The term "grave" is translated from the Hebrew word "Sheol," which in ancient Hebrew thought was the abode of the dead, a shadowy place of silence and forgetfulness. The psalmist's use of "Sheol" conveys a sense of separation from God, as it was perceived as a place where God's presence and praise were absent. This reflects the psalmist's fear of being cut off from God's loving devotion and the community of worshippers. Your faithfulness
"Faithfulness" comes from the Hebrew word "emunah," which denotes steadfastness, reliability, and trustworthiness. It is a key attribute of God, assuring believers of His unwavering commitment to His promises. The psalmist is questioning whether this divine faithfulness can be experienced in death, highlighting the tension between the certainty of God's character and the uncertainty of human mortality. in Abaddon?
"Abaddon" is a Hebrew term meaning "destruction" or "place of ruin," often associated with the depths of the earth or the realm of the dead. In biblical literature, it is sometimes personified as a destructive force or angel. The mention of Abaddon in this verse intensifies the psalmist's lament, as it represents the ultimate separation from life and divine presence. The rhetorical question posed by the psalmist underscores the belief that God's faithfulness is meant to be experienced and celebrated in the land of the living, not in the desolation of Abaddon. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Sons of KorahThe authors of Psalm 88, a group of Levitical singers and musicians who played a significant role in temple worship. 2. Heman the EzrahiteTraditionally attributed as the author of this psalm, Heman was a wise man and a musician in King David's time. 3. AbaddonA term used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to a place of destruction, often associated with the grave or the realm of the dead. 4. The Grave (Sheol)In Hebrew thought, Sheol is the abode of the dead, a place of darkness and silence. 5. God's Loving Devotion and FaithfulnessCentral themes in the psalm, highlighting God's covenant love and reliability, even in times of despair. Teaching Points The Reality of Human MortalityRecognize the brevity of life and the importance of living with an eternal perspective. The Urgency of Worship and ProclamationUnderstand that our time to proclaim God's loving devotion and faithfulness is now, while we are alive. God's Presence in DespairEven in the depths of despair, like Heman, we can cry out to God, trusting in His presence and ultimate deliverance. The Hope Beyond the GraveAs Christians, we have the hope of resurrection and eternal life through Jesus Christ, transforming our understanding of death and the grave. Faithfulness in TrialsEmulate the psalmist's faithfulness in continuing to seek God, even when circumstances seem hopeless. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the concept of Sheol in Psalm 88:11 shape our understanding of life and death from a biblical perspective? 2. In what ways can we proclaim God's loving devotion and faithfulness in our daily lives, knowing that our time on earth is limited? 3. How does the psalmist's cry in Psalm 88:11 encourage us to approach God in times of deep despair or darkness? 4. What connections can you draw between the themes of Psalm 88:11 and the hope of resurrection found in the New Testament? 5. How can we remain faithful and continue to seek God when we feel overwhelmed by life's challenges, as demonstrated by the psalmist? Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 6:5Similar to Psalm 88:11, this verse questions whether the dead can praise God, emphasizing the urgency of seeking God in life. Job 26:6Discusses Sheol and Abaddon, providing a broader understanding of these concepts in the context of God's omnipresence. Isaiah 38:18Echoes the sentiment that the grave cannot praise God, reinforcing the theme of life as the time to worship and acknowledge God's faithfulness. Revelation 9:11Mentions Abaddon as the angel of the abyss, connecting the Old Testament concept to New Testament eschatology. People Abaddon, Ethan, Heman, Korah, Mahalath, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Abaddon, Dead, Declared, Destruction, Faith, Faithfulness, Grave, Kindness, Love, Loving, Lovingkindness, Loving-kindness, Mercy, News, Recounted, Steadfast, StoryDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 88:11 9040 grave, the
9512 hell, experience Psalm 88:1-18 5831 depression
8613 prayer, persistence Psalm 88:3-18 5265 complaints Psalm 88:10-12 4811 darkness, symbol of sin Psalm 88:11-12 9540 Sheol Library Out of the Deep of Doubt, Darkness, and Hell.
O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night unto Thee. Oh! let my prayer enter into Thy presence. For my soul is full of trouble and my life draweth nigh unto Hell. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in a place of darkness, and in the deep.--Ps. lxxxviii. 1, 2. If I go down to Hell, Thou art there also. Yea, the darkness is no darkness with Thee; but the night is as clear as the day.--Ps. cxxxix. 7, 11. I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my calling. …
Charles Kingsley—Out of the DeepHow to Make Use of Christ as the Truth, that we May Get Our Case and Condition Cleared up to Us.
The believer is oft complaining of darkness concerning his case and condition, so as he cannot tell what to say of himself, or what judgment to pass on himself, and he knoweth not how to win to a distinct and clear discovery of his state and condition. Now, it is truth alone, and the Truth, that can satisfy them as to this. The question then is, how they shall make use of, and apply themselves to this truth, to the end they may get the truth of their condition discovered to them. But first let us …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life How a Desolate Man Ought to Commit Himself into the Hands of God
O Lord, Holy Father, be Thou blessed now and evermore; because as Thou wilt so it is done, and what Thou doest is good. Let Thy servant rejoice in Thee, not in himself, nor in any other; because Thou alone art the true joy, Thou art my hope and my crown, Thou art my joy and my honour, O Lord. What hath Thy servant, which he received not from Thee, even without merit of his own? Thine are all things which Thou hast given, and which Thou hast made. I am poor and in misery even from my youth up,(1) …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ Our Status.
"And he believed in the Lord: and he counted it to him for righteousness." --Gen. xv. 6. The right touches a man's status. So long as the law has not proven him guilty, has not convicted and sentenced him, his legal status is that of a free and law-abiding citizen. But as soon as his guilt is proven in court and the jury has convicted him, he passes from that into the status of the bound and law-breaking citizen. The same applies to our relation to God. Our status before God is that either of the …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit His Past Work.
His past work was accomplished by Him when he became incarnate. It was finished when He died on Calvary's cross. We have therefore to consider first of all these fundamentals of our faith. I. The Work of the Son of God is foreshadowed and predicted in the Old Testament Scriptures. II. The incarnation of the Son of God. III. His Work on the cross and what has been accomplished by it. I. Through the Old Testament Scriptures, God announced beforehand the work of His Son. This is a great theme and one …
A. C. Gaebelein—The Work Of Christ How is Christ, as the Life, to be Applied by a Soul that Misseth God's Favour and Countenance.
The sixth case, that we shall speak a little to, is a deadness, occasioned by the Lord's hiding of himself, who is their life, and "the fountain of life," Ps. xxxvi. 9, and "whose loving-kindness is better than life," Ps. lxiii. 3, and "in whose favour is their life," Ps. xxx. 5. A case, which the frequent complaints of the saints manifest to be rife enough, concerning which we shall, 1. Shew some of the consequences of the Lord's hiding his face, whereby the soul's case will appear. 2. Shew the …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life Letter xvi to Rainald, Abbot of Foigny
To Rainald, Abbot of Foigny Bernard declares to him how little he loves praise; that the yoke of Christ is light; that he declines the name of father, and is content with that of brother. 1. In the first place, do not wonder if titles of honour affright me, when I feel myself so unworthy of the honours themselves; and if it is fitting that you should give them to me, it is not expedient for me to accept them. For if you think that you ought to observe that saying, In honour preferring one another …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux Letter xxiv (Circa A. D. 1126) to Oger, Regular Canon
To Oger, Regular Canon [34] Bernard blames him for his resignation of his pastoral charge, although made from the love of a calm and pious life. None the less, he instructs him how, after becoming a private person, he ought to live in community. To Brother Oger, the Canon, Brother Bernard, monk but sinner, wishes that he may walk worthily of God even to the end, and embraces him with the fullest affection. 1. If I seem to have been too slow in replying to your letter, ascribe it to my not having …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux The Wrath of God
What does every sin deserve? God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and in that which is to come. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire.' Matt 25: 41. Man having sinned, is like a favourite turned out of the king's favour, and deserves the wrath and curse of God. He deserves God's curse. Gal 3: 10. As when Christ cursed the fig-tree, it withered; so, when God curses any, he withers in his soul. Matt 21: 19. God's curse blasts wherever it comes. He deserves also God's wrath, which is …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Period ii. The Church from the Permanent Division of the Empire Until the Collapse of the Western Empire and the First Schism Between the East and the West, or Until About A. D. 500
In the second period of the history of the Church under the Christian Empire, the Church, although existing in two divisions of the Empire and experiencing very different political fortunes, may still be regarded as forming a whole. The theological controversies distracting the Church, although different in the two halves of the Graeco-Roman world, were felt to some extent in both divisions of the Empire and not merely in the one in which they were principally fought out; and in the condemnation …
Joseph Cullen Ayer Jr., Ph.D.—A Source Book for Ancient Church History Sense in Which, and End for which all Things were Delivered to the Incarnate Son.
For whereas man sinned, and is fallen, and by his fall all things are in confusion: death prevailed from Adam to Moses (cf. Rom. v. 14), the earth was cursed, Hades was opened, Paradise shut, Heaven offended, man, lastly, corrupted and brutalised (cf. Ps. xlix. 12), while the devil was exulting against us;--then God, in His loving-kindness, not willing man made in His own image to perish, said, Whom shall I send, and who will go?' (Isa. vi. 8). But while all held their peace, the Son [441] said, …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius Of Faith. The Definition of It. Its Peculiar Properties.
1. A brief recapitulation of the leading points of the whole discussion. The scope of this chapter. The necessity of the doctrine of faith. This doctrine obscured by the Schoolmen, who make God the object of faith, without referring to Christ. The Schoolmen refuted by various passages. 2. The dogma of implicit faith refuted. It destroys faith, which consists in a knowledge of the divine will. What this will is, and how necessary the knowledge of it. 3. Many things are and will continue to be implicitly …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Psalm 88:11 NIVPsalm 88:11 NLTPsalm 88:11 ESVPsalm 88:11 NASBPsalm 88:11 KJV
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