Finding Hope in the Darkness of Psalm 88

 

Summary

In my sermon today, I explored the profound depths of Psalm 88, a psalm that uniquely ends in darkness without a note of hope, unlike most other psalms which conclude with a reaffirmation of God’s presence and faithfulness. This psalm serves as a stark, realistic portrayal of the spiritual and emotional valleys that believers can experience. It teaches us about the nature of suffering, the presence of God in dark times, and the transformation that can occur through enduring hardship.

The first point I addressed was the enduring nature of darkness for a believer. Psalm 88 shows us that a person can be faithful, continually praying and trusting in God as Savior, yet still remain in a prolonged period of suffering. This reality challenges the often simplistic narrative that faith immediately rescues us from difficulty. Instead, it presents a more nuanced truth: that faith involves trusting God even when we do not feel His presence or see an end to our struggles.

Secondly, I discussed how darkness can be a profound teacher about the grace of God. The psalmist’s raw, unfiltered dialogue with God reveals a relationship where honest expression of pain and confusion is permissible. This openness is not a sign of weak faith but a candid aspect of a dynamic relationship with God, where one can wrestle with understanding His ways.

The third point highlighted how times of darkness can be transformative, shaping us into people of greatness. By remaining engaged with God through our doubts and pain, we develop a resilience and depth of character that is not possible in times of ease. This process is akin to how pressure forms diamonds; it is intense and uncomfortable, yet it produces something beautiful and strong.

Furthermore, I spoke about the relativity of darkness. The psalmist felt utterly abandoned, a feeling that Jesus Christ truly experienced on the cross. This connection to Christ’s suffering brings a profound realization that our darkest moments have been fully shared by Him, providing a deep sense of solidarity and comfort.

Lastly, I reassured everyone that our cries in the dark are not signs of faithlessness but are echoes of a biblical tradition of lament that God honors and responds to. These prayers of despair are included in the scriptures because they reflect genuine human responses to real suffering, and God meets us in these moments with His grace.

### Key Takeaways:

1. Endurance in Darkness: Psalm 88 teaches us that periods of spiritual darkness can be long-lasting even for the faithful. This challenges the notion that faith is a shield against all adversity, instead proposing that true faith is trusting God’s goodness despite our circumstances. This perspective prepares us for endurance rather than escape. [02:02]

2. Learning in Lament: The honest expressions of doubt and pain in Psalm 88 are not signs of weak faith but are indicative of a robust relationship with God that can withstand honesty. This teaches us that our relationship with God can and should handle our deepest questions and darkest moments. [03:34]

3. Transformation Through Trials: The intense emotions and doubts expressed by the psalmist are not wasted; they are the very experiences that God uses to forge greatness in us. By wrestling with God rather than walking away, we grow in character and faith. [06:19]

4. Solidarity with Christ in Suffering: The ultimate darkness experienced by the psalmist points us to Christ, who experienced absolute abandonment on the cross. This connection offers us comfort, knowing that Christ has entered into the deepest darkness for us, ensuring that we are never truly forsaken. [27:07]

5. The Grace of God in Desperate Prayers: The inclusion of Psalm 88 in the Bible is a testament to God’s understanding of human despair. It reassures us that God accepts us not only when we are full of faith but also when we are full of doubt. This acceptance is rooted in His grace, not our performance. [14:37]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 88:1-2, 6-18
- John 16:33 - "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
- Matthew 27:45-46 - "From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' (which means 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?')."

#### Observation Questions
1. What are the main themes expressed by the psalmist in Psalm 88? How does the psalmist describe his relationship with God during his time of suffering? [03:34]
2. According to the sermon, what are the two types of darkness the psalmist experiences? How do these types of darkness affect his faith? [05:07]
3. How does the sermon describe the psalmist's approach to prayer in Psalm 88? What are some of the ways he expresses his feelings towards God? [10:24]
4. What connection does the sermon make between the psalmist's suffering and the suffering of Jesus on the cross? How does this comparison provide comfort to believers? [27:07]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the enduring nature of darkness in Psalm 88 challenge the common narrative that faith immediately rescues us from difficulty? What does this suggest about the nature of true faith? [07:44]
2. In what ways can darkness be a profound teacher about the grace of God, as discussed in the sermon? How does the psalmist's raw dialogue with God illustrate this? [14:37]
3. How can times of darkness be transformative, shaping believers into people of greatness? What does the sermon suggest about the role of resilience and character development in this process? [20:55]
4. How does the sermon explain the relativity of darkness in the context of Christ's suffering? What does this imply about the solidarity believers have with Christ in their own suffering? [27:07]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a prolonged period of spiritual or emotional darkness. How did you maintain your faith during that time, and what did you learn about God's presence in your life? [07:44]
2. The psalmist's honest expressions of doubt and pain are seen as part of a robust relationship with God. How can you incorporate more honesty in your prayers, especially during difficult times? [10:24]
3. Think about a recent trial or hardship you faced. How did it shape your character or faith? What steps can you take to remain engaged with God during future challenges? [20:55]
4. Jesus experienced ultimate abandonment on the cross, ensuring that believers are never truly forsaken. How does this truth impact your understanding of your own suffering and God's presence in your life? [27:07]
5. The sermon suggests that our cries in the dark are not signs of faithlessness but are part of a biblical tradition of lament. How can you embrace this tradition in your own spiritual practice? What specific prayers or actions can you take when you feel overwhelmed by despair? [14:37]
6. How do your expectations about the Christian life align with the realism presented in the sermon? What adjustments might you need to make to better handle suffering and maintain a resilient faith? [09:07]
7. Identify one area of your life where you feel abandoned or in darkness. How can you seek God's grace and presence in that situation, and what practical steps can you take to trust in His goodness despite your circumstances? [23:21]

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting God in Persistent Darkness
Enduring spiritual darkness can be a profound, albeit challenging, aspect of one's faith journey. Psalm 88 teaches that periods of darkness are not always quickly resolved, even for the faithful. This reality invites believers to trust in God's goodness despite the lack of visible relief or immediate escape from their struggles. It's a call to develop a faith that does not rely on circumstances but on the unchanging nature of God. This kind of trust prepares believers for endurance, shaping a resilient faith that can withstand prolonged trials. [02:02]

Lamentations 3:19-24: "Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced prolonged spiritual darkness, and how can you actively trust God's faithfulness during these times?

Day 2: Embracing Honesty in Our Relationship with God
The expressions of doubt and pain found in Psalm 88 are not indicators of a weak faith but rather evidence of a robust relationship with God. This psalm allows believers to see that their relationship with God can withstand, and even necessitates, honesty about their darkest and most confusing moments. By embracing this level of transparency, believers can experience a deeper communion with God, where questions and doubts are not just allowed but are integral to spiritual growth and understanding. [03:34]

Psalm 62:8: "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us."

Reflection: How can you practice being more honest with God about your doubts and fears, and what steps can you take to foster a more transparent relationship with Him?

Day 3: Growth Through Adversity
The intense emotions and doubts expressed in times of darkness are not wasted but are instrumental in God's plan to forge greatness within us. Like pressure forming diamonds, our spiritual and emotional trials are uncomfortable and challenging yet are capable of producing something beautiful and strong within us. This transformative process is a testament to the power of remaining engaged with God, wrestling with Him through our doubts rather than withdrawing. [06:19]

James 1:2-4: "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent trial you faced. How did it help you grow in character or faith, and what might God be teaching you through that experience?

Day 4: Christ's Solidarity with Our Suffering
The ultimate darkness experienced by the psalmist in Psalm 88 points us to Christ, who endured absolute abandonment on the cross. This profound connection offers comfort and solidarity, knowing that Christ has intimately shared in our deepest sufferings. This realization allows believers to feel truly understood and never forsaken, no matter the depth of their despair. [27:07]

Hebrews 4:15-16: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Reflection: How does understanding Christ's suffering on the cross change your perspective on your own struggles and feelings of abandonment?

Day 5: The Power of Desperate Prayers
The inclusion of Psalm 88 in the Bible underscores God's understanding and acceptance of human despair. This psalm reassures believers that God hears and values their cries of anguish, not as signs of faithlessness but as genuine human responses to real suffering. God meets us in these moments with His grace, affirming that our relationship with Him is based on His grace, not our performance. [14:37]

Psalm 34:17-18: "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Reflection: What are some desperate prayers you've held back from God, and how can you begin to voice these to Him with the assurance that He listens and responds with grace?

Quotes

1. "Christianity is really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really realistic. It's not selling you anything. It tells you you can do everything right, and you can have pretty long times in which the darkness just doesn't lift." [07:44]( | | )

2. "It's in the dark times, that are the, the dark times are really the best place and time to learn about the grace of God." [10:24]( | | )

3. "This darkness can happen to a believer, this psalm says, it doesn't mean you're lost. This darkness can happen to someone who does not deserve it. After all, it happened to Jesus. That doesn't mean you've strayed." [29:21]( | | )

4. "Jesus was truly abandoned so that you will only feel abandoned. And you can know that God's still there. He's not going to abandon you. No matter what you've done wrong, because of what Jesus Christ has done, he's taken the penalty." [28:17]( | | )

5. "You know why? He's saying to God, God, darkness is a better friend than you are right now. I'd rather have darkness than you. Even darkness is more of a comfort than you are." [13:09]( | | )

6. "I've learned 10 times more about the grace of God in dark times than I ever did in times of prosperity." [14:37]( | | )

7. "But even as hope died in Sam, or seemed to die, it was turned to a new strength. Sam's plain hobbit face grew stern, almost grim, as the will hardened in him, and he felt through all his limbs a thrill, as if he was turning into some creature of stone and steel." [21:56]( | | )

8. "This suffering was not absolute. It was relative. It was temporary. And God was there, because through this suffering, this man was being turned into a great artist." [25:18]( | | )

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?