What is the meaning of Psalm 88:15? From my youth • “From my youth” highlights that the psalmist’s suffering has been lifelong. This is not a brief trial but a history of hardship that began early (Psalm 71:17). • Scripture often shows God’s servants marked by trials from childhood, such as Joseph sold by his brothers (Genesis 37:2, 28) and Jeremiah, who was consecrated “before you were born” yet faced rejection for decades (Jeremiah 1:5–8). • Lifelong struggles remind us that God’s purposes span a lifetime; even persistent pain is folded into His wise and loving plan (Romans 8:28). I was afflicted and near death • The psalmist’s affliction brought him repeatedly to the brink of the grave. Job echoed this feeling: “I have no peace… for trouble comes” (Job 3:24–26). • Paul, pressed “beyond our ability… so that we despaired even of life” (2 Corinthians 1:8–9), learned to rely on “God who raises the dead.” • When illness or danger feels terminal, Psalm 118:17 encourages, “I will not die, but live, and proclaim what the LORD has done.” God can use even near-death experiences to display His deliverance. I have borne Your terrors • The psalmist recognizes God’s sovereignty over every hardship. He calls them “Your terrors,” acknowledging that nothing touches him apart from God’s hand (Psalm 90:11; Lamentations 3:37–38). • This sense of divine awe does not deny God’s goodness; rather, it confesses that the Almighty’s discipline is profound and purposeful (Hebrews 12:5–7). • Isaiah described Hezekiah’s brush with death: “Like a lion He breaks all my bones; day and night You make an end of me” (Isaiah 38:13). Feeling God’s terrors can drive the heart to a deeper reverence and reliance on His mercy. I am in despair • Honest lament reaches its lowest point here. The psalmist is “in despair,” yet his very cry is an act of faith. He is still speaking to God, not turning from Him (Psalm 42:11). • Paul wrote, “We are hard pressed… but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8). The child of God may feel despair, but in Christ there is always a deeper hope beneath the sorrow. • Even when emotions say “There is no hope,” God’s Word assures that His steadfast love never ceases (Lamentations 3:21–23). Despair is real, but it is not the final word. summary Psalm 88:15 portrays lifelong suffering that has pressed the psalmist to the edge of death, overwhelmed him with the terrors of God’s discipline, and left him in utter despair. Yet every phrase is spoken to the LORD, revealing a rugged faith that clings to God even when no light is visible. The verse invites believers to bring honest grief to the God who rules every circumstance, trusting that His sovereign purposes and steadfast love remain sure, even when feelings fail. |
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