The Bible Says
Psalm 88:10-12 Meaning

In the heartfelt lament of Psalm 88:10-12, the psalmist cries out, Will You perform wonders for the dead? Will the departed spirits rise and praise You? Selah (v. 10). Here, the writer grapples with the seeming impossibility of finding hope or help within the realm of the dead. By using such vivid questions, the psalmist exposes a raw desperation, addressing God directly and wondering if divine power extends beyond the grave. The mention of departed spirits highlights the psalmist’s uncertainty about whether those who have passed can still experience God’s deliverance.

In the ancient Hebrew mindset, the grave (or Sheol) often symbolized distance from God’s presence. Phrases like Will You perform wonders for the dead? reveal a deep-rooted concern whether God’s work of redemption can truly touch the depths of desolation. As the psalmist wrestles with these doubts, it magnifies the contrast between darkness and the hope of God’s light — foreshadowing how Jesus’s resurrection later reveals that even death is not a barrier to God’s wondrous acts of salvation (1 Corinthians 15:55). Even in moments when circumstances feel utterly bleak, the psalmist’s question implicitly underscores the possibility that God’s power can answer from beyond human limitations.

The call to Selah indicates a pause for reflection. It suggests that one should pause and consider this weighty question. The psalmist’s challenge dwells on whether redemption and restoration can flourish where life itself has ceased. By embracing honest questioning, the psalm invites believers to take their deepest uncertainties to God, trusting that no question is too dark for His faithful response.

Continuing with the lament, the writer pleads, Will Your lovingkindness be declared in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? (v. 11) The Hebrew term Abaddon can refer to the realm of destruction or the deepest pit, underscoring the psalmist’s sense of isolation. The juxtaposition of lovingkindness and faithfulness with the grave emphasizes how foreign God’s mercy seems in places of profound sorrow.

This question highlights how dire circumstances can blur one’s awareness of God’s steadfast character. By earnestly asking whether God’s covenant love could possibly be known in such a dismal domain, the psalmist reveals an underlying desire for assurance that God’s nature remains unwavering, even when all signs of hope appear absent. This persistent yearning for a demonstration of divine compassion echoes the belief that God’s presence can pierce even the darkest situations.

When considering this verse in broader biblical themes, we see that many warriors of faith throughout Scripture — such as Elijah and Jeremiah — experienced their own moments of despair, yet ultimately discovered that God’s faithfulness endured (1 Kings 19:1-18, Jeremiah 20:7-13). The psalm thus resonates as a reminder that the Lord’s love remains unchanging and can be declared even when human strength fails (to see how God’s faithfulness sustained His servants in times of despair, please visit our commentary on Jeremiah 20:7–13).

Finally, the psalmist asks, Will Your wonders be made known in the darkness? And Your righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? (v. 12) This desperation reveals the speaker’s fear that God’s glory might not be perceived when everything seems concealed by sorrow. Darkness represents not merely physical absence of light but also the spiritual void left by unanswered prayers and unresolved suffering.

Mentioning the land of forgetfulness intensifies the emotional depth of the psalm. In a place where one’s existence feels overlooked or abandoned, the psalmist wonders if God’s mighty works and righteous ways can still hold meaning. The question calls attention to the tension between the psalmist’s experience of isolation and the trustworthy goodness of the Almighty. This tension points ahead to promises that internal, divine redemption can occur even in the deepest darkness — for ultimately God’s light breaks through all gloom (John 1:5).

By ending with these poignant questions, the psalm underscores a passionate plea for God’s reassurance. Though the psalm’s tone remains somber, the underlying testimony is that even pressing doubts can be brought before the Lord, who is able to answer with the wonders of His righteousness in His perfect time.