Psalms 88:5 - set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand.
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What does "Psalms 88:5" mean?
Psalm 88 is a lament, a cry of deep despair and anguish. Verse 5 is part of that intense suffering, expressing the psalmist's feeling of being abandoned by God, even to the point of being as good as dead and forgotten. Let's break down the verse:
"Set apart among the dead": This speaks to the psalmist's utter isolation and feeling of being on the brink of death. They feel like they are already separated from the living, grouped with those who have passed away. It emphasizes their helplessness and hopelessness.
"Like the slain who lie in the grave": This intensifies the image of being near death. "Slain" implies a violent and perhaps unjust death, heightening the sense of suffering and vulnerability. The grave represents the finality of death and the loss of all earthly connection.
"Whom you remember no more": This is the most devastating part. The psalmist believes that even God has forgotten them. In ancient Israelite thought, memory was crucial. To be remembered by God meant to be cared for, protected, and blessed. To be forgotten meant to be abandoned to one's fate.
"They are cut off from your hand": This reinforces the sense of abandonment and lack of divine protection. The "hand" of God is often used in the Psalms to symbolize God's power, care, and guidance. To be "cut off" from God's hand means to be deprived of His support and intervention. The psalmist feels utterly helpless and exposed.
In Summary:
Verse 5 conveys the psalmist's profound sense of being:
Isolated: Separated from the living and grouped with the dead.
Forgotten: Abandoned by God, who no longer remembers them.
Unprotected: Cut off from God's hand, lacking divine care and support.
The overall tone is one of deep despair, questioning God's presence and care in the face of overwhelming suffering. The psalmist feels like they are already dead to God. It is important to remember that the Psalms often express raw emotions and doubts, even questioning God, and that this psalm represents one of the darkest expressions of that within the Psalter.
Psalms 88:5 - set apart among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more. They are cut off from your hand.
What does "Psalms 88:5" mean?
Psalm 88 is a lament, a cry of deep despair and anguish. Verse 5 is part of that intense suffering, expressing the psalmist's feeling of being abandoned by God, even to the point of being as good as dead and forgotten. Let's break down the verse:
"Set apart among the dead": This speaks to the psalmist's utter isolation and feeling of being on the brink of death. They feel like they are already separated from the living, grouped with those who have passed away. It emphasizes their helplessness and hopelessness.
"Like the slain who lie in the grave": This intensifies the image of being near death. "Slain" implies a violent and perhaps unjust death, heightening the sense of suffering and vulnerability. The grave represents the finality of death and the loss of all earthly connection.
"Whom you remember no more": This is the most devastating part. The psalmist believes that even God has forgotten them. In ancient Israelite thought, memory was crucial. To be remembered by God meant to be cared for, protected, and blessed. To be forgotten meant to be abandoned to one's fate.
"They are cut off from your hand": This reinforces the sense of abandonment and lack of divine protection. The "hand" of God is often used in the Psalms to symbolize God's power, care, and guidance. To be "cut off" from God's hand means to be deprived of His support and intervention. The psalmist feels utterly helpless and exposed.
In Summary:
Verse 5 conveys the psalmist's profound sense of being:
Isolated: Separated from the living and grouped with the dead.
Forgotten: Abandoned by God, who no longer remembers them.
Unprotected: Cut off from God's hand, lacking divine care and support.
The overall tone is one of deep despair, questioning God's presence and care in the face of overwhelming suffering. The psalmist feels like they are already dead to God. It is important to remember that the Psalms often express raw emotions and doubts, even questioning God, and that this psalm represents one of the darkest expressions of that within the Psalter.