Psalm 88:12 - Day and Night I Cry Out Before You

Audio Bible

Context

Day and Night I Cry Out Before You
…11Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? 12Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion? 13But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You.…

Cross References

Job 10:21-22
before I go—never to return—to a land of darkness and gloom, / to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”Isaiah 38:18
For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.Ecclesiastes 9:5-6
For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten. / Their love, their hate, and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have a share in all that is done under the sun.Job 14:13
If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me!Psalm 6:5
For there is no mention of You in death; who can praise You from Sheol?Psalm 30:9
“What gain is there in my bloodshed, in my descent to the Pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?Psalm 115:17
It is not the dead who praise the LORD, nor any who descend into silence.Isaiah 14:9-11
Sheol beneath is eager to meet you upon your arrival. It stirs the spirits of the dead to greet you—all the rulers of the earth. It makes all the kings of the nations rise from their thrones. / They will all respond to you, saying, “You too have become weak, as we are; you have become like us!” / Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol, along with the music of your harps. Maggots are your bed and worms your blanket.Ezekiel 26:20
then I will bring you down with those who descend to the Pit, to the people of antiquity. I will make you dwell in the earth below like the ancient ruins, with those who descend to the Pit, so that you will no longer be inhabited or set in splendor in the land of the living.Lamentations 3:6
He has made me dwell in darkness like those dead for ages.Matthew 8:12
But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”Luke 16:23-26
In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side. / So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’ / But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. ...John 5:28-29
Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice / and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.Acts 2:27
because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 143:3
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

Job 10:21,22
Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; …

Isaiah 8:22
And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

in the land

Psalm 88:5
Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.

Psalm 31:12
I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.

Ecclesiastes 2:16
For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

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Psalm 88

Will Your wonders be known in the darkness
This phrase reflects a deep sense of despair and questioning of God's presence in times of trouble. The "darkness" symbolizes a state of spiritual or emotional turmoil, often associated with death or severe trials. In biblical context, darkness is frequently used to represent chaos or the absence of God's light (Genesis 1:2, John 1:5). The psalmist is questioning whether God's miraculous works can be recognized or appreciated when one is engulfed in such darkness. This echoes the sentiments found in other psalms where the psalmist cries out for God's intervention (Psalm 22:1-2). Theologically, it raises the question of God's omnipresence and omnipotence, even in the darkest times.

or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?
The "land of oblivion" is a metaphor for Sheol, the abode of the dead in ancient Hebrew thought. It is depicted as a place of forgetfulness and silence, where the dead are cut off from the living and, seemingly, from God's active presence (Psalm 6:5, Ecclesiastes 9:10). The psalmist is questioning whether God's righteousness, His moral perfection and justice, can be manifested or acknowledged in such a place. This reflects a common theme in the Psalms, where the psalmist grapples with the apparent absence of God's justice in the face of death and suffering. Theologically, it points to the hope of resurrection and eternal life, where God's righteousness will ultimately be revealed and vindicated (Isaiah 26:19, Daniel 12:2). In the New Testament, this hope is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who conquers death and brings life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:10).

Persons / Places / Events

1. Sons of Korah
The authors of Psalm 88, a group of Levitical singers and musicians who played a significant role in temple worship.

2. Heman the Ezrahite
Traditionally attributed as the author of Psalm 88, known for his wisdom and musical contributions.

3. Darkness
Symbolic of despair, suffering, and the absence of God's presence.

4. Land of Oblivion
A metaphorical place representing death or a state of being forgotten, where God's wonders and righteousness seem absent.

5. God's Wonders and Righteousness
Central themes of the Psalm, questioning their visibility and impact in times of deep distress.

Teaching Points

The Reality of Suffering
Psalm 88 acknowledges the depth of human suffering and despair, reminding us that it is okay to bring our deepest fears and questions to God.

God's Presence in Darkness
Even when we feel abandoned, God is present. Our understanding of His wonders and righteousness may be obscured, but they remain true.

The Importance of Lament
This Psalm teaches us the value of lament in our spiritual journey, allowing us to express our pain and seek God's intervention.

Hope Beyond Despair
While the Psalm ends in darkness, the broader biblical account assures us of hope and redemption through Christ.

Community Support
In times of personal darkness, the support of a faith community can be vital in reminding us of God's promises and presence.

Verse 12. - Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? (compare above, ver. 10). And thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? "The land of forgetfulness," or "of oblivion," is another name for Hades, or Sheol - not that there are supposed to be no memories of the past in it (Isaiah 14:16, 17), but that all is faint and shadowy there, consciousness but a half-consciousness, remembrance but a half-remembrance. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Will Your wonders
פִּלְאֶ֑ךָ (pil·’e·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6382: A miracle

be known
הֲיִוָּדַ֣ע (hă·yiw·wā·ḏa‘)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

in the darkness,
בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ (ba·ḥō·šeḵ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2822: The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness

or Your righteousness
וְ֝צִדְקָתְךָ֗ (wə·ṣiḏ·qā·ṯə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6666: Rightness, subjectively, objectively

in the land
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of oblivion?
נְשִׁיָּֽה׃ (nə·šî·yāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5388: Forgetfulness, oblivion

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Psalm 88:12 Catholic BibleOT Poetry: Psalm 88:12 Are your wonders made known (Psalm Ps Psa.)