Psalms 88:13-14
But I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O LORD, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Despite the overwhelming darkness described, the psalmist uses the word "but" to emphasize that his personal action—crying out to God—still persists. This choice isn't just about enduring; it's about actively seeking, signaling a fragile but present hope that prayer can indeed "prevent" or go ahead of God’s action, reaching Him first.
{ "references": [ { "reference": "Psalms 5:3", "connection": "This verse echoes the psalmist's commitment to persistent, early prayer, highlighting that prayers offered at the dawn of a new day are presented before God." }, { "reference": "Psalms 119:147", "connection": "The sentiment of waking early to pray is directly mirrored here, emphasizing a deliberate and earnest approach to seeking God's presence and guidance at the start of each day." }, { "reference": "Mark 1:35", "connection": "This passage shows Jesus himself rising early to pray, demonstrating the profound spiritual discipline and importance of seeking God before the day's demands begin, much like the psalmist describes." }, { "reference": "Luke 18:7", "connection": "Jesus' parable about the persistent widow praying day and night, and not giving up, reinforces the theme of importunity and continuous prayer found in Psalms 88:13, even when answers seem delayed." } ] }
Even when surrounded by despair and the silence of God, there's a crucial 'but' that shifts the focus. This verse highlights a determined turning point in the psalmist's cry.
The Determined Turn
This verse starts with a powerful contrast: "But as for me..." (Psalms 88:13a). The psalmist has just described a state of utter desolation, feeling forgotten and on the brink of death.
Yet, in the midst of this overwhelming darkness, he doesn't surrender to despair. He emphatically separates himself from the silence of the grave, asserting his present ability to reach out.
Why the Emphasis?
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The psalmist doesn't just pray; he specifies when and how his prayer arrives. This isn't about clock-watching, but about a deep, intentional urgency.
The Intentionality of Early Prayer
The second part of the verse says, "in the morning my prayer comes before you" (Psalms 88:13b). This phrase "comes before" (or "prevents" in older translations) doesn't mean prayer gets ahead of God's schedule – God is always present. Instead, it speaks to the timing and intentionality of the prayer.
What "Comes Before" Means:
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of God (Yahweh), emphasizing His self-existence, eternal nature, and personal relationship with His people as their Redeemer.
tephillah · Hebrew Noun
A humble and urgent address to God, expressing reliance upon Him. Prayer is the means by which humanity enters into conversation, petition, and communion with the Creator.
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
A metaphor for the conscious self, life-breath, or the inner being of a person. It is the seat of emotions, will, and the core of the human personality that stands before God.
panim · Hebrew Noun
A vivid metaphor for intimacy, favor, and fellowship with God. Hiding the face indicates the withdrawal of God's manifest presence, blessing, and comforting light, often experienced as a result of divine judgment or testing.
This verse echoes the commitment to early prayer, highlighting the psalmist's deliberate act of bringing his pleas before God at the dawn of a new day, just as Psalm 88 expresses. Both emphasize prayer as a priority before other activities.
Psalms 119:148This passage directly mirrors the idea of early prayer, stating 'My eyes anticipate the night watches, so that I meditate on your word.' Like Psalm 88:13, it shows a deep earnestness in seeking God before the day even begins.
Mark 1:35This New Testament example shows Jesus himself rising 'a great while before day' to pray, illustrating the profound dedication and urgency found in the prayer of Psalm 88:13, even when facing immense trials.
Lamentations 3:25This verse declares, 'The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.' It connects with Psalm 88:13 by reinforcing the enduring hope and persistent seeking of God, even amidst deep suffering and a sense of abandonment.
pulpitPsalms 88:13: "But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee."
Verse 13. - But unto thee have I cried, O Lord; literally, but as for me, to thee have I cried. The psalmist returns from the somewhat vague speculations of vers. 10-12 to fact and to himself. He is not yet a mere shade, an inhabitant of Sheol; he is in the flesh, upon the earth; he can still cry, and does still cry, to Jehovah. There is thus still a faint gleam of hope for him. And in the morni…
ellicottPsalms 88:13: "But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee."
(13) But unto Thee . . . —Better, But as for me, I, &c. The pronoun is emphatic. The speaker has not gone down to the land where all is silent and forgotten, and can therefore still cry to God, and send his prayer to meet (prevent, i.e. go to meet; see Psalm 17:13 ) the Divine Being who still has an interest in him. And this makes the expostulation of the next verses still stronger. Why, since t…
Despite the overwhelming darkness described, the psalmist uses the word "but" to emphasize that his personal action—crying out to God—still persists. This choice isn't just about enduring; it's about actively seeking, signaling a fragile but present hope that prayer can indeed "prevent" or go ahead of God’s action, reaching Him first.
{ "references": [ { "reference": "Psalms 5:3", "connection": "This verse echoes the psalmist's commitment to persistent, early prayer, highlighting that prayers offered at the dawn of a new day are presented before God." }, { "reference": "Psalms 119:147", "connection": "The sentiment of waking early to pray is directly mirrored here, emphasizing a deliberate and earnest approach to seeking God's presence and guidance at the start of each day." }, { "reference": "Mark 1:35", "connection": "This passage shows Jesus himself rising early to pray, demonstrating the profound spiritual discipline and importance of seeking God before the day's demands begin, much like the psalmist describes." }, { "reference": "Luke 18:7", "connection": "Jesus' parable about the persistent widow praying day and night, and not giving up, reinforces the theme of importunity and continuous prayer found in Psalms 88:13, even when answers seem delayed." } ] }
{ "references": [ { "reference": "Psalms 5:3", "connection": "This verse echoes the psalmist's commitment to persistent, early prayer, highlighting that prayers offered at the dawn of a new day are presented before God." }, { "reference": "Psalms 119:147", "connection": "The sentiment of waking early to pray is directly mirrored here, emphasizing a deliberate and earnest approach to seeking God's presence and guidance at the start of each day." }, { "reference": "Mark 1:35", "connection": "This passage shows Jesus himself rising early to pray, demonstrating the profound spiritual discipline and importance of seeking God before the day's demands begin, much like the psalmist describes." }, { "reference": "Luke 18:7", "connection": "Jesus' parable about the persistent widow praying day and night, and not giving up, reinforces the theme of importunity and continuous prayer found in Psalms 88:13, even when answers seem delayed." } ] }
"But I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you. O LORD, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me?" — Despite the overwhelming darkness described, the psalmist uses the word "but" to emphasize that his personal action—crying out to God—still persists. This choice isn't just about enduring; it's about…
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