Psalms 88:2

KJV

Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;

KJV (with Strong's)

Let my prayer {H8605} come {H935}{H8799)} before {H6440} thee: incline {H5186}{H8685)} thine ear {H241} unto my cry {H7440};

Complete Jewish Bible

let my prayer come before you, turn your ear to my cry for help!

Berean Standard Bible

May my prayer come before You; incline Your ear to my cry.

American Standard Version

Let my prayer enter into thy presence; Incline thine ear unto my cry.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
This verse encapsulates an urgent, heartfelt plea from a soul in profound distress, initiating one of the Bible's most unremitting laments. The psalmist, Heman the Ezrahite, directly implores God to grant immediate audience to his prayer and to actively attend to his desperate cry, thereby establishing a tone of raw vulnerability and absolute reliance on divine intervention in the face of overwhelming suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 88 stands as a unique and stark anomaly within the Psalter, often referred to as "the darkest psalm" because, unlike most laments, it concludes without any discernible shift towards hope, praise, or resolution. It is part of Book 3 of the Psalms (Psalms 73-89), a section often characterized by communal laments and deep theological wrestling with God's justice and covenant faithfulness. Verse 2 serves as the immediate and direct invocation, setting the tone for the profound and unrelieved suffering that unfolds throughout the rest of the psalm. It is a foundational cry for divine attention that precedes the detailed articulation of the psalmist's overwhelming despair, isolation, and sense of abandonment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The superscription attributes this psalm to Heman the Ezrahite, a prominent Levite and a chief musician in David's temple service (see [1 Chronicles 6:33](/1_chronicles/6-33 "1 Chronicles 6:33 - Heman's Genealogy") and [1 Chronicles 25:5](/1_chronicles/25-5 "1 Chronicles 25:5 - Heman, the King's Seer")). This background adds a poignant layer to the psalm, as it reveals that even those deeply involved in worship and close to God can experience profound and seemingly unrelieved suffering. While the specific nature of Heman's distress—whether personal illness, national calamity, or spiritual desolation—remains unspecified, the psalm's universal language allows it to resonate with anyone experiencing deep despair. Culturally, prayer in ancient Israel was understood as a direct, personal communication with a living God, and anthropomorphic language, such as God "inclining His ear," was common to convey divine attentiveness and compassion, a concept echoed in other biblical pleas for divine attention, such as [Psalm 17:6](/psalms/17-6 "Psalm 17:6 - David's Plea for God to Hear").
* **Key Themes:** This opening verse immediately introduces several pivotal themes that permeate Psalm 88 and resonate throughout the biblical narrative. Firstly, there is the theme of **Urgent Supplication**, a fervent desire for direct and unhindered access to God's presence, signifying a plea for the prayer to be not merely uttered but received and acknowledged. Secondly, the phrase "incline thine ear" highlights **Divine Attentiveness**, an anthropomorphic expression emphasizing God's active, compassionate listening, implying a God who bends down to hear the faintest or most desperate plea, assuring the petitioner that their voice will not go unheard. Thirdly, the use of the word "cry" underscores **Desperation and Vulnerability**, denoting an intense, often loud, expression of distress or anguish, rather than a quiet whisper, highlighting the psalmist's profound pain and complete reliance on God for deliverance. These themes collectively establish the psalm's unique contribution to the biblical understanding of lament, where raw, unvarnished suffering is brought directly before a God who is believed to hear, even when comfort or resolution remains elusive, as seen in other laments like [Lamentations 3:8](/lamentations/3-8 "Lamentations 3:8 - Jeremiah's Cry to God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Prayer (Hebrew, _tĕphillâ'_):** This term refers generally to a formal or informal act of supplication, intercession, or praise directed to God. In the context of Psalm 88, however, _tĕphillâ_ carries the weight of a desperate plea, a fervent and urgent communication from a soul in deep anguish. It is not merely a request but an earnest appeal for divine intervention, a direct address to the Almighty from a place of profound need.
* **Incline (Hebrew, _nāṭâ'_):** This verb means "to stretch out," "to extend," "to bend down," or "to turn aside." When used with "ear," as it is here, it signifies an active and deliberate act of listening. It is far more than passive hearing; it implies God bending down or leaning in intently, focusing all attention to catch every word, every groan, every whisper of the supplicant. This powerful imagery assures the one crying out that their words are not falling on deaf ears but are being received with focused and compassionate attention.
* **Cry (Hebrew, _rinnâ'_):** While _rinnâ_ can denote a shout of joy or triumph, in this context, it unequivocally signifies a loud, intense expression of distress, anguish, or lament. It suggests a profound and overwhelming emotional state that compels the psalmist to vocalize their pain with urgency and desperation. It is not a quiet whisper but an audible, fervent outpouring of a soul overwhelmed by suffering, highlighting the depth of the psalmist's despair and their absolute reliance on God for deliverance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Let my prayer come before thee:"**: This opening clause is an urgent imperative, a direct and impassioned plea for immediate and unhindered access to God's presence. The psalmist desires that their prayer not merely be uttered into the void, but that it would actively "come before" God, signifying a fervent desire for divine reception, acknowledgment, and consideration. It expresses a longing for the prayer to bypass any obstacles and to be presented directly into the divine court, ensuring it is heard and attended to.
* **"incline thine ear unto my cry;"**: This second clause intensifies the plea, employing vivid anthropomorphic language. The request for God to "incline His ear" is a plea for active, compassionate, and focused listening. It implies God bending down, as it were, to catch the faintest or most desperate sound of the psalmist's voice. The word "cry" (rinnâ) emphasizes the raw, unvarnished nature of the psalmist's distress, indicating a deep, intense expression of anguish that demands immediate divine attention and empathy.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 88:2 masterfully employs several **literary devices** to convey the psalmist's urgent plea. The most prominent is **Anthropomorphism**, seen in the phrase "incline thine ear." This attributes human physical characteristics and actions (having an ear, bending it) to God, making the divine accessible and relatable, emphasizing God's personal attentiveness to human suffering. The verse also utilizes **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the two clauses ("Let my prayer come before thee" and "incline thine ear unto my cry") express similar ideas using different phrasing, thereby reinforcing and intensifying the central request for divine audience and attention. The use of the **Imperative Mood** in "Let" and "incline" conveys the psalmist's directness, urgency, and fervent desire for God to act. Finally, the word "cry" (rinnâ) can be seen as a form of **Hyperbole**, suggesting a heightened emotional state and a profound, overwhelming distress that goes beyond mere words, emphasizing the sheer desperation of the psalmist's appeal.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 88:2 profoundly connects to the broader biblical understanding of God's accessibility and the human right to lament, even in the most desolate circumstances. It affirms that God is not a distant deity but one who invites and responds to the raw, honest cries of His people. This verse, and indeed the entire psalm, serves as a theological anchor for those experiencing profound suffering, validating their pain and assuring them that the pathway to God's ear remains open, even when answers are elusive or comfort is absent. It underscores the divine attribute of attentiveness, suggesting that God actively leans in to hear the desperate pleas of His creation, regardless of their perceived spiritual state or the severity of their plight. This openness to lament is a cornerstone of biblical faith, demonstrating a God who can handle the full spectrum of human emotion, including despair.

* [Psalm 17:6](/psalms/17-6 "Psalm 17:6 - David's Plea for God to Hear")
* [Psalm 34:17](/psalms/34-17 "Psalm 34:17 - The Lord Hears the Righteous")
* [Lamentations 3:8](/lamentations/3-8 "Lamentations 3:8 - Jeremiah's Cry to God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 88:2 offers profound encouragement and permission for believers today, particularly those enduring severe trials or periods of spiritual desolation. It teaches us that our prayers, no matter how raw, desperate, or seemingly devoid of hope, are welcomed by God. This verse validates the expression of our deepest anguish, reminding us that God can handle our unvarnished honesty and that true faith does not require us to mask our pain. Even when we feel unheard, abandoned, or when our circumstances offer no clear resolution, this psalm reassures us that God is actively attentive to our "cry." It is a powerful reminder that our communication with God is deeply personal, and He is always ready to incline His ear to our earnest supplications, even when our circumstances remain unchanged, and our hearts are heavy with unrelieved sorrow. This psalm gives voice to the necessary and often neglected spiritual practice of lament, affirming that it is a legitimate and vital aspect of a living faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Psalm 88:2 challenge or affirm your understanding of God's attentiveness in times of deep suffering?**
* **In what ways might you be holding back your "cry" from God, and what might it look like to bring your rawest emotions and deepest despair before Him?**
* **What comfort or challenge do you find in a psalm that offers no clear resolution, yet still begins with an earnest plea for God's direct attention?**

### FAQ

**Why is Psalm 88 considered the "darkest" psalm?**

Answer: Psalm 88 is uniquely characterized as the "darkest" psalm because, unlike almost all other laments in the Psalter, it concludes without any discernible shift towards hope, praise, or a resolution of the psalmist's suffering. It describes unrelieved despair, profound isolation, and a persistent sense of abandonment by God, making it an unvarnished and unremitting expression of profound spiritual and physical distress. It gives voice to those who feel truly lost, even within the context of their faith, offering no easy answers or comforting promises of deliverance.

**Who was Heman the Ezrahite?**

Answer: Heman the Ezrahite was a prominent Levite, a grandson of the prophet Samuel, and a chief musician appointed by King David (see [1 Chronicles 6:33](/1_chronicles/6-33 "1 Chronicles 6:33 - Heman's Genealogy") and [1 Chronicles 25:5](/1_chronicles/25-5 "1 Chronicles 25:5 - Heman, the King's Seer")). He was a leader of temple worship, known for his prophetic insight in music. His authorship of this psalm, a cry from the depths of despair, is particularly poignant, highlighting that even those most devoted to God and deeply involved in sacred service can experience profound spiritual and physical distress, underscoring the universal nature of suffering.

**Does God always "incline His ear" to our cries?**

Answer: The biblical witness consistently affirms that God is always attentive to the prayers and cries of His people, especially those in distress (e.g., [Psalm 34:15](/psalms/34-15 "Psalm 34:15 - The Eyes of the Lord are on the Righteous")). The phrase "incline His ear" signifies God's compassionate presence and active listening, a divine willingness to engage with human suffering. However, this attentiveness does not always guarantee immediate relief or a specific answer we desire, as exemplified by the psalmist's continued suffering throughout [Psalm 88](/psalms/88 "Psalm 88 - A Psalm of Deep Distress") itself. It assures us that our cries are heard and acknowledged by a compassionate God, even when the circumstances remain unchanged or the path to resolution is unclear.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 88:2 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus, who perfectly embodies the cry of profound suffering and the divine response of attentiveness. Jesus himself, in His earthly ministry, experienced the depths of human anguish, culminating in His agonizing prayer in Gethsemane (see [Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")) and His ultimate cry of dereliction from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (as recorded in [Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). This cry echoes the very essence of Psalm 88, demonstrating that God Himself, in Christ, entered into and fully identified with the unrelieved suffering and sense of abandonment expressed by Heman. Through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Jesus became the ultimate intercessor, the one whose prayers the Father always hears (as affirmed in [Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Jesus Our Intercessor")). Therefore, when we, like Heman, cry out to God in our deepest pain, our prayers are not merely heard, but they are carried to the Father through the perfect mediation of Christ, who understands our suffering intimately. He is the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") who bore the ultimate "cry" of humanity's sin and separation from God, thereby transforming the meaning of our own laments and offering the ultimate hope that Psalm 88, in its raw honesty, yearns for.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 31:2

Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

Lamentations 3:8

Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.

Psalms 79:11

Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;

Psalms 141:1

¶ A Psalm of David. LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.

Psalms 141:2

Let my prayer be set forth before thee [as] incense; [and] the lifting up of my hands [as] the evening sacrifice.

1 Kings 8:31

If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house: