When we face darkness and desertion, there is a light that we can turn to.
Sermon Title: SEARCHING FOR LIGHT IN THE DARKEST OF DAYS
Scripture Text: PSALM 88
Sermon Notes:
PSALMS 88 (Legacy Standard Bible Version)
Incline Your Ear to My Cry A Song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choir director. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. 1 O Yahweh, the God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and throughout the night before You. 2 Let my prayer come before You; Incline Your ear to my cry of lamentation! 3 For my soul has been saturated with calamities, And my life has reached Sheol. 4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength, 5 Released among the dead, Like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom You remember no more, And they are cut off from Your hand. 6 You have put me in the pit far below, In dark places, in the depths. 7 Your wrath lies upon me, And You afflict me with all Your breaking waves. Selah. 8 You have removed my acquaintances far from me; You have set me as an abomination to them; I am shut up and cannot go out. 9 My eye has wasted away because of affliction; I have called upon You every day, O Yahweh; I have spread out my hands to You. 10 Will You do wonders for the dead? Will the departed spirits rise and praise You? Selah. 11 Will Your lovingkindness be recounted in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? 12 Will Your wonders be known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? 13 But as for me, O Yahweh, I have cried out to You for help, And in the morning my prayer comes before You. 14 O Yahweh, why do You reject my soul? Why do You hide Your face from me? 15 I have been afflicted and about to breathe my last from my youth on; I bear Your terrors; I am overcome. 16 Your burning anger has passed over me; Your horrors have destroyed me. 17 They have surrounded me like water all day long; They have encompassed me altogether. 18 You have removed lover and friend far from me; My acquaintances are in darkness.
I. The Darkness of Death (vv. 1-7)
II. The Darkness of Desertion (vv. 8-12)
III. The Darkness of Despair (vv. 13-18)