ENDURING THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

PSALM 88

In 1934 a prominent Sports columnist in Toronto named Charles Templeton became a Christian. Many who heard him preach the Gospel were convinced his ministry would eclipse that of Billy Graham. He had met Graham in 1945 at a Youth for Christ rally and toured Europe with Graham sharing the pulpit in proclaiming Christ. Templeton later founded his own church that soon outgrew its 1200 seat capacity. One magazine stated that Templeton set a new standard for mass evangelism. Who could have predicted that years later Templeton would reject Christ and embrace agnosticism? What happened? Templeton explained that he had trusted in Christ at an early age when he was naïve and inexperienced. As he grew older his “reason” began to challenge the most fundamental beliefs he had held. Templeton pointed out that he lacked the intellectual skills and theological training to withstand the questions and doubts that plagued him. He even took his concerns to Graham who himself was unable to answer the deep questions of doubt Templeton posed. Graham was unable to help Templeton. Though he could not answer the questions, Graham maintained his faith despite the fact it seemed unreasonable. Templeton considered Graham’s choice of “faith” as intellectual suicide. The two grew apart. Author Lee Strobel recently interviewed Charles Templeton for his book, The Case for Faith[1]. Strobel asked Templeton whether there was anything particular that caused Templeton to lose his faith. Templeton responded that the turning point was a photograph he had seen in Life magazine of an African woman holding a dead baby looking up to heaven in utter despair. “Is it possible to believe that there is a loving or caring Creator when all this woman needed was rain?”[2] Templeton went on to say that only a “fiend” would destroy a baby and kill its mother with agony when rain was all that was needed. He then considered all the plagues that had swept across the earth killing all kinds of people, in most cases painfully. It became crystal clear, Templeton said - an intelligent person cannot believe there is a deity who loves.

OPENING THOUGHT:

Has there been a time in your life since trusting in Christ that you experienced a crisis so devastating, so sorrowful that you questioned the very existence of God? Describe the situation. How did you come through the doubts? What was the outcome?

For Templeton the issue was not his own suffering or misfortune but seeing that of others. Many who hear the Gospel of Christ and accept it lose their faith due to the personal trials they encounter. Jesus described these in a parable he taught concerning a sower and the different types of soils on which he sowed seed. Specifically, Jesus stated that some of the seed fell on rocky ground where there was not much soil. The plant sprang up immediately because there was not much depth of soil. When the sun rose, however, they were scorched and withered away due to lack of root (Matt. 13:3-6). Jesus later explained that the rocky ground represents the man who hears the word, accepts it immediately with joy, but has no firm root in himself. His faith is temporary for when affliction or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away (Matt. 13:20-21).

Psalm 88 is a treasure in the canon of Hebrew poetry. Its realism is stark. It is filled with terms of darkness and despair. It is penned by a man determined to not cease crying out to God despite an acute sense of feeling abandoned by God. It is possible, perhaps, that this Psalm describes the challenge that people face in their walk of faith more realistically than any other. It offers no easy answers, no cheap solutions. As we read through this Psalm, we will discover a man who has been afflicted for a long time, a man who is surrounded by adversity, a man who sees no way out. This man is exhausted to the point of death. He carries as a burden the terrors of the Lord. Abandoned, seemingly, by God, left alone by his closest friends all he can now do is look to the God who saves. There will be no happy ending, there will be no miraculous rescue, and there will be no sudden remembrance of the Lord that brings joy or hope. The final word in the Hebrew text is darkness. Darkness is where he leaves us. But in this darkness, he teaches us a very valuable lesson: seek God always even if you must do so during the longest, darkest, gloomiest, more despairing night of your soul.

INSCRIPTION:

Song of praise. For (the) sons of Korah. For (the) director of music concerning (the) 1sickness leading to  2afflicting. Maskil. For Heman the Ezrahite.

The name Heman is mentioned several times in the OT (I Kings 4:31; I Chron. 6:16, 33, 39, 43-44; 15:17, 19; 16:41-42; 25:1-6; II Chron. 5:12; 35:15). He was a temple singer, a descendant of Levi. That’s really all we know. Interesting though how one who regularly leads the congregation in praise of God can find himself in the depths of dark trials. No one, regardless of ministry role, is immune from encountering intense affliction.

THE DEPRESSED CONDITION (88:1-5):

Yahweh, God of my deliverance;

Daily I 1cry out in the night prominently before you.

It is coming  before Your face, my prayer;

Cause to incline Your ear, to my cry.

For it is 2filled with troubles my soul;

and my life, to Sheol has caused to reach.  (Ps. 6:1-7)

I am counted, with (the) ones descending (in) (the) pit;

I have become, as a mighty man void of strength. (Is. 14:9-10)

Among the dying ones, free, as slain ones, ones lying (in) (the) grave, whom you remember not again;

Even they, from Your hand they are cut off.

This man has been afflicted for a long time. His troubles are intense. His soul is filled with misery. He feels his life has come in contact with the grave. His strength is gone. He is in a pitiful condition (6 different words used of the grave). He is viewed as one on his way into the ground. Despite sensing that God has forgotten him, has cut him off, he cries out to God – the God of his deliverance – day and night. He goes before God prominently calling upon God to hear his cry. Is it in vain? Will God indeed incline His ear? Is God even there? Note the two paradoxes these verses present: 1) death brings freedom (v. 5; cf., Job 3:13); 2) the Psalmist calls on the Lord despite feeling He is absent.  Jesus told a parable concerning an unrighteous judge and a widow (Lk. 18:1-8). This judge feared not God and respected not man. The widow kept coming to the judge seeking protection from her opponent. The judge initially was unwilling but soon grew weary of the widow repeatedly coming to her so he gave her legal protection to avoid being worn out. The conclusion: will God not bring about justice for His people who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? The questions are rhetorical. The answer is He will not delay, at least not long . . . . at least not from His perspective. Back in verse one we are told the purpose of this parable was to teach that believers should pray at all times and not to lose heart. One question: how long is too long in God’s timing? How does His timing appear to us? How can we get through the deepest night of affliction when God’s timing seems so long that we feel abandoned?

THE DIVINE CAUSE (88:6-9):

You have placed me, in (the) lowest pit;

In dark places, in watery depths.

Upon me, You lay Your 1wrath;

And (with) all of Your waves, You intensely afflict (me)  Selah.

You caused ones known of me to be far from me, You made me abominations to them;

One being restrained I shall not go forth.

My eyes have become faint, out of affliction I have called You Yahweh throughout all (the) day;

I completely spread unto You my open palms.

Unlike other Psalms, the writer does not complain of affliction brought on by enemies. The cause of his affliction is Yahweh. He states that the Lord put him in the lowest pit, afflicted him with His waves, and caused his friends to desert him. He says that the Lord made him abominable to his friends (cf., Ps. 31:9-13). He is imprisoned by the Lord and can do nothing. He has cried out to the point of losing sight, all day, with open hands lifted high to heaven. This man almost pictures the woman pictured in Life magazine mentioned earlier looking up to heaven confused and in despair. All he needs is a time of refreshing. Why does God afflict His people? Is it because of sin (cf., Ps. 32:3-4; 38:1-8)? Not necessarily, consider the case of Job. Does God take pleasure in the sufferings of His people? No, the prophet Ezekiel says the Lord takes no pleasure in the death even of the wicked (Ez. 18:23). Another writer notes that the Lord takes pleasure in His people and will beautify the afflicted with salvation (Ps. 149:4). Perhaps the writer is under attack from enemies but sees the enemies’ power and advance as judgment. There is similarity between the tone of these verses and that of Jeremiah as he saw the impending doom of Jerusalem under the sword of Babylon (Lam. 3:1-18). Why Heman is under intense suffering is unknown. We know not the cause or the purpose. How often have you encountered suffering without knowing the reason? Rarely I would say, except for significant sin, do we know the reasons for the trials we endure. It’s usually after the trouble is over that the Lord reveals to us His purpose. In the middle of the gloomy night we know neither when day will come nor how the situation will be resolved. Again, here is the reality of this Psalm. No easy answers, no platitudes. Often when we encounter loved ones enduring trouble we search for the right thing to say, but we just don’t know what.

THE DESPERATE CRY (88:10-12):

For the dead ones will you do 1wonders?

If (the) 2ghosts, rise will they cause to 3praise You?  Selah

Will it be recounted in the grave Your lovingkindness?

Your faithfulness, in the 4place of destruction?

Will it be known in the darkness Your wonder?

And Your righteousness, in (the) land of oblivion?

The writer asks six questions of the Lord. What is it he is seeking to communicate to the Lord with these questions? Does he expect an answer? Does he already know the answer? What is his point?

Consider this statement made by the apostle Paul, “For David, after he served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers, and underwent decay” (Acts 13:36). Is there a time while a person still lives that his life can no longer have a purpose in the service of God? Does this writer feel like he can serve God in his present state?

THE DARK CLIMAX (88:10-12):

But I, unto You Yahweh I intensely 1cry out;

And in the morning my prayer will completely 2confront You.

Why Yahweh, are you 3rejecting my soul?

(Why) are You causing to hide Your face from me?

I I am afflicted and one expiring  from (my) youth;

I bear Your 4horrors – 5let me be perplexed.

Over me, Your 6burning sensations pass;

Your 7terrors, they completely put an end to me.

They encircle me as the waters, all of the day;

They cause to encompass over me together.

You have caused to be distant from me, one loving and companion;

Ones known of me – darkness.

There is no happy ending to this Psalm. The expected remembrance of what wonderful things the Lord has done is not present. The anticipation of what wonderful things the Lord will do is absent. The last word is darkness. His lover, his companion the Lord has made distant. His only acquaintances (plural) now is darkness (singular).

Put yourself in the writer’s position and try to find something positive about your existence. Look to the past (v. 15a). What do you see? He has been afflicted from his youth. This strong term, afflicted, has been used now four times (Inscription, 7, 9, 15). The term pictures a beating! The past brings no happy memories, how about the future (15b, 16)? According to his perspective, there is no future. He is silenced, cut-off. What of the present (v. 17-18)? The terrors of the Lord encompass him like water all day long. The waters of horror have come together over him. This pictures a sinking ship just as the waters cover over the last part that sinks. The worst part of it all is that he has no one he can talk to, no one to comfort him or to encourage him. The Lord has sent friend and lover from him. He shares his life now only with the darkness.

Has this man lost faith? What can he do?

Consider this: faith does not passively accept affliction and trials as ends in themselves. The man or woman of faith wrestles with the Lord in prayer (Ps. 55:1-5, 16-23; 64:1; 142:2). Our faith deepens as we pray to the Lord and express our frustrations and our questions. Our faith strengthens as we call out to God in our time of abandonment. What was it that Jesus cried out to God from the cross as He experienced that one moment in all eternity of separation from God? Before the Psalmist concludes, he details for us his confrontation with God in prayer.

What is it that the Psalmist prays for (v. 13)?

What two questions then does he ask of Yahweh?

What does the name Yahweh mean? What is the significance of the name in covenant relationship?

Although the Psalmist states he is rejected and abandoned, do you think he knows that God is indeed present? Why or why not?

Heman’s last word is darkness. You may have felt this way before. You may feel this now or in the future. You may have a close friend or loved one experiencing this now. Maybe he or she has experienced this for a long time and has no hope. What can you say to someone who is experiencing the emotions expressed in this Psalm?

I want you to consider the following thoughts gained from this text:

        It is possible that continual suffering and affliction is the fate for a believer.

        Believers are to cry out to God for deliverance from their present suffering.

        Believers are to never give up.

        Believers should use their own past experiences in the dark night of the soul to counsel and encourage those presently experiencing the night.

        The darkness a believer encounters in this life is only temporary.

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pain of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Romans 8:22-25

In closing, I return us to the case of Charles Templeton. It is so easy to judge but we must not. In the closing moments of Lee Strobel’s interview with him, Templeton revealed his heart for Jesus. Though insistent that Jesus was just a man, Templeton, choking back tears, confessed Jesus as the most important man who ever lived. The last words Templeton gave in the interview, “I miss Him.” Strobel felt that Templeton revealed a deep, dark void in his heart that he did not want to reveal. The interview immediately ended. Whatever darkness we experience as believers in this life is nothing like the darkness unbelievers will experience for all eternity. In the midst of the flame of trials and tribulations, hang on to Jesus. See Him in the flame and embrace Him. He will never leave you nor forsake you regardless of how you feel. He will take you through safely to the other side. He is the anchor of your soul (Heb. 6:17-20).

FURTHER STUDY:

Spend time in the following Psalms: 5; 10; 13; 27; 55; 74; 77; 89; 142. Take time to make a chart with columns labeled “Complaint”, “Cause”, and “Change”. Each of these Psalms are complaint Psalms. In each column list out as much information as you can to understand what has taken place to cause the writer to be anguished, what the characteristics are of the complaint, and what brought about the positive change in tone of the Psalm.

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

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[1] Strobel, Lee, The Case for Faith, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000), pp. 13-18.

[2] Ibid., p. 14.