This week's reading continue going through Ezekiel and Luke and will complete the Psalms of Asaph.

The readings this week continue going through the book of Ezekiel and the Gospel of Luke. With the Psalms, this week begins a two-week series going through the Psalms of Asaph. Asaph was a descendant of Levi and was appointed by King David to be among those leading worship when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem (1 Chron. 16:4-5).

Psalm 88 is noteworthy because it is the most despondent of all the Psalms, not even ending on a note of praise as other psalms of lament do. It must be noted that, as dark as the Psalm is, the Psalmist is still crying out to the Lord. This is a reminder that in even our darkest despair, we still ought to cling to God and pour out our heart to Him. The name "Israel" means "one who struggles with God" (cf. Gen. 32:28) and in such moments of distress we best exhibit what it means to be children of Israel when we hang in there and wrestle with God.