⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 2 min read
Psalm 88 Explained: Faith in Unrelenting Darkness
Show Summary
Psalm 88 is one of the most sobering and honest psalms in all of Scripture.
In this episode of Reading the Bible Daily with Dave, Dave Jenkins walks through Psalm 88 and explains how God invites His people to bring even their deepest pain, confusion, and suffering honestly before Him.
Psalm 88 gives voice to deep suffering, unanswered prayer, and spiritual darkness—yet it calls believers to continue crying out to God in faith even when relief does not come.
This episode reminds us that biblical faith is not the absence of struggle, but persistence in prayer through seasons of sorrow and silence.
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Episode Notes
- Psalm 88 is one of the darkest psalms in Scripture, yet it is not without faith.
- Faith continues to cry out to God even when relief does not come.
- God welcomes honest prayer, not sanitized spirituality.
- Suffering often brings isolation, but the Lord still hears the cries of His people.
- Psalm 88 ultimately points forward to Christ, who entered fully into suffering and death for His people.
- Where Psalm 88 ends in darkness, the gospel declares resurrection hope.
Key Scripture
Psalm 88
Main Takeaway
Faith cries out to God even when the night does not lift.
Call to Action
If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone walking through suffering or spiritual darkness. Subscribe to Reading the Bible Daily with Dave for daily biblical encouragement and teaching from God’s Word or at our YouTube.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
