Psalms 88:12
Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
Original Language Analysis
הֲיִוָּדַ֣ע
be known
H3045
הֲיִוָּדַ֣ע
be known
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
1 of 6
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ
in the dark
H2822
בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ
in the dark
Strong's:
H2822
Word #:
2 of 6
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
וְ֝צִדְקָתְךָ֗
and thy righteousness
H6666
וְ֝צִדְקָתְךָ֗
and thy righteousness
Strong's:
H6666
Word #:
4 of 6
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
Historical Context
The "land of forgetfulness" captures the ancient conception of Sheol as a place where memory fades—both God's memory of the dead and the dead's memory of God. This made the Jewish emphasis on remembrance (memorial stones, feast days, genealogies) all the more critical. Only in this life could one remember and be remembered by God—or so it seemed until Christ's resurrection.
Questions for Reflection
- When you are in seasons of spiritual darkness, how do you remind yourself of God's "wonders" and "righteousness"?
- What does it mean that Christ is the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it?
- How does the promise that God never forgets His children provide comfort when you feel forgotten?
Analysis & Commentary
Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? (הַיִּוָּדַע בַּחֹשֶׁךְ פִּלְאֶךָ, hayivada vachoshekh pilekha)—Darkness here is both literal (the darkness of Sheol) and metaphorical (spiritual darkness, ignorance, despair). Can God's miraculous works be known in such darkness? And thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? (וְצִדְקָתְךָ בְּאֶרֶץ נְשִׁיָּה, vetzidkarekha be-eretz neshiyah)—The "land of forgetfulness" is Sheol, where the dead forget and are forgotten. Can God's righteousness be recognized there?
These rhetorical questions assume the answer "No"—driving home the urgency of the psalmist's plea for deliverance now. Yet providentially, these questions point forward to Christ, the light who shone in the darkness (John 1:5), whose righteousness was declared even in death (Romans 4:25), and who ensures believers are never forgotten by God. Paul declares that nothing—not even death—can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:38-39), directly answering Heman's dark questions.