Many different people have written psalms that are included in the Bible. There are also many different themes in the psalms. The following expresses persistent prayers.

Read Psalm 88:1-9 slowly and prayerfully:

1 LORD, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.
2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
3 I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death.
4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength.
5 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.
7 Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves.
8 You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape;
9 my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you. (NIV)

1. Who does the psalmist recognize God to be?

2. Why is the psalmist praying in song at this time?

3. Who does the psalmist recognize as the author of this situation?

4. Why do you suppose God has put the psalmist in these circumstances?

5. Why do you suppose the psalmist keeps praying to God?

6. What one phrase from this passage will you think about throughout today?