Introduction

This is a Psalm of Heman the Ezrahite. He appears to be in great distress and appeals to God for help.

Verses
1LORD, the God of my salvation,
I have cried day and night before you.
2Let my prayer enter into your presence.
Turn your ear to my cry.
3For my soul is full of troubles.
My life draws near to Sheol.
4I am counted amongst those who go down into the pit.
I am like a man who has no help,
5set apart amongst the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
whom you remember no more.
They are cut off from your hand.
6You have laid me in the lowest pit,
in the darkest depths.
7Your wrath lies heavily on me.
You have afflicted me with all your waves.
Selah.
8You have taken my friends from me.
You have made me an abomination to them.
I am confined, and I can’t escape.
9My eyes are dim from grief.
I have called on you daily, LORD.
I have spread out my hands to you.
10Do you show wonders to the dead?
Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you?
Selah.
11Is your loving kindness declared in the grave?
Or your faithfulness in Destruction?
12Are your wonders made known in the dark?
Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13But to you, LORD, I have cried.
In the morning, my prayer comes before you.
14LORD, why do you reject my soul?
Why do you hide your face from me?
15I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up.
While I suffer your terrors, I am distracted.
16Your fierce wrath has gone over me.
Your terrors have cut me off.
17They came around me like water all day long.
They completely engulfed me.
18You have put lover and friend far from me,
and my friends into darkness.

Questions

1. Which verses indicate that the writer feels he is suffering because God is angry with him?

v 7 Your wrath lies heavily on me. You have afflicted me with all your waves. ...

v 16 Your fierce wrath has gone over me. Your terrors have cut me off.

2. The writer seems to be ill and feeling isolated. Which verses indicate his loneliness?

v 8 You have taken my friends from me. You have made me an abomination to them. I am confined, and I can’t escape.

v 18 You have put lover and friend far from me, and my friends into darkness.

3. What questions does he ask to indicate the things the dead can't do?

v 11 and 12 Is your loving kindness declared in the grave?
Or your faithfulness in Destruction?
Are your wonders made known in the dark?
Or your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

Summary Points

  • v 1 to 7 The writer cries to God as he suffers trouble and feels near to death
  • v 8 to 12 He has no friends with him. He prays daily to God and questions how the dead can praise him
  • v 13 to 18 He continues to pray to God despite feeling rejected and afflicted by God

 Timeline 1050 to 850 BC

The audio version uses Yahweh instead of LORD. This reflects the original Hebrew language.

Audio