Psalms 88:7
“Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.”
Context:Before diving into the specific verse, it’s important to understand the overall context of Psalm 88. This psalm is unique among the Psalms because it does not conclude with a resolution or a note of hope. It expresses the psalmist’s deep despair and unrelenting suffering. The author feels abandoned by God and overwhelmed by affliction.
Psalm 88 is a psalm of lament, attributed to Heman the Ezrahite. It is a deeply sorrowful and distressing psalm, expressing the author’s overwhelming feelings of suffering, abandonment, and the apparent absence of God’s intervention. In verse 7, the psalmist continues to describe their affliction, emphasizing the weight of God’s anger and the overwhelming nature of their distress.
“Thy wrath lieth hard upon me”:The psalmist begins by acknowledging the intensity of God’s anger or wrath, which feels heavy and burdensome upon them. This phrase reflects the psalmist’s perception of being under divine judgment and experiencing the consequences of their actions or circumstances.
“Thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves”:The psalmist goes on to describe the affliction they are facing using the metaphor of waves. The waves represent overwhelming troubles and distress that crash upon the psalmist, one after another, like the relentless crashing of ocean waves. The psalmist feels as if they are constantly being buffeted by these troubles, unable to find respite or relief.
Selah:The word “Selah” appears at the end of verse 7, and it is a musical notation used in the Psalms to indicate a pause or a moment of reflection. It prompts the reader or the worshiper to pause and consider the weight and significance of what has been said.
In summary, Psalm 88:7 portrays the psalmist’s profound anguish and the feeling of being overwhelmed by the weight of God’s anger and the continuous affliction they are facing. It reflects a state of distress, where the psalmist feels abandoned and without relief. The use of the metaphor of waves emphasizes the relentless nature of their suffering.
While this psalm expresses a raw and painful human experience, it is important to note that it does not end with a resolution or a message of hope. However, its inclusion in the Book of Psalms reminds us that it is valid to bring our deepest sorrows and despair to God in prayer, even when we struggle to find immediate answers or relief.
