“Hello Darkness my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again” I loved that song, The Sound Of Silence sung by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkle. This morning I was intrigued by the 88 Psalm and as I considered that last verse.

“You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.” NIV

As I read it this morning in the NIV, I thought, “oh boy do I know how that feels.” Times like that when you crave sleep just to stop the pain, either physical or emotional, “been there done that, have the hospital gown, and the tear towel.”

I couldn’t help but think of Paul Simon penning those words, “Hello darkness my old friend. The word translated in the NIV closest friend is quite a bit deeper than that in the Hebrew “yada`” is the same word used first in the Bible in Genesis 3:5 where it says knowing.

“For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Then in the next chapter 4:1

“Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the LORD.”

This “yada`” is a very intimate word and the author Heman had certainly become very acquainted with these “Dark or secret Places” mentioned in this last verse.

This 88 Psalm truly left me with more questions than answers, and that’s what I love about the word of God I can ponder it forever. Who was Heman, (the author), was he Samuel’s Grandson, Hannah’s great grandson mentioned in 1Chronicals 6:33 that David appointed lead singer in His Amazing Worship Group? If so, we know his father had grieved God and David’s buddy Samuel doing evil and had been stripped of his Judgeship, and maybe that lead to the psalmist’s troubles.

Why doesn’t this Psalm have a happy ending? Or maybe it does? Is it a pre-figure of Christ as some suppose with Him facing death and the Pit and troubled as Jesus was in John 13?

After a great deal of pain and death with more to come, the turning point seems to be in the 13^th and 14th verse.

“But to You I have cried out, O LORD, And in the morning my prayer comes before You. LORD, why do You cast off my soul? [Why] do You hide Your face from me?”

 I have to admit I dearly love this “BUT” he is still crying out still seeking the face of God. Oh God may my faith hold on this tight as I become all to intimate with the dark places. May I too see Your Face…Selah (think about it).

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