A Cry from the Darkness

This sermon is grounded in Psalm 88, described as one of the darkest psalms in all of Scripture because it ends without praise or a reversal of circumstances. The psalmist describes himself as one near the grave, cut off from God, abandoned by friends and loved ones, and overwhelmed by God's wrath. The image of darkness becoming his "closest companion" (v. 18) highlights the extreme loneliness and despair he is experiencing.

The preacher emphasizes that the very presence of Psalm 88 in Scripture is evidence of God's compassion for humanity. Quoting scholar Derek Kidner, the sermon affirms that God knows how people speak and what they say in moments of desperation. Scholar Martin Marty is also cited to warn that anyone who tries to build a philosophy of life from Scripture in which everything always turns out well must begin by tearing this page from the Bible — because Psalm 88 offers no comfortable resolution.

The sermon draws on Psalm 42:7-8 to show that even amid overwhelming waves, God's steadfast love by day and His song by night can still be found. The story of Job is referenced as a classic example of someone suffering without understanding why, and Proverbs 20:6 is quoted to reflect the rarity of true human faithfulness in contrast to God's reliability.

The theological climax of the sermon connects Psalm 88 to Jesus' cry from the cross in Matthew 27:45-46: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This is presented as the clearest evidence that Jesus truly entered the deepest darkness alongside humanity. Hebrews 5:7-8 is quoted to confirm that Christ cried out, prayed, and learned obedience through the sufferings He endured in the flesh.

The sermon concludes with a practical invitation: when you find yourself in darkness and feel far from God, know that He has heard prayers like these from the first page to the last of Scripture. Honest lament is not a failure of faith but an act of faith — for the psalmist still cries out to God even when no answer comes.