Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 88:11

"Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or thy faithfulness in Destruction?" — Psalms 88:11 (ASV)

Shall thy loving-kindness be declared in the grave? — Your goodness; your mercy. Will anyone make it known there? Will it be celebrated there?

Or thy faithfulness in destruction? — In the place where destruction seems to reign; where human hopes perish; where the body decays back to dust. Will anyone there dwell on the fidelity—the truthfulness—of God, in such a way as to honor Him? It is implied here that, according to the views then held concerning the state of the dead, those things would not occur. According to what is now made known to us of the unseen world, it is true that the mercy of God will not be made known to the dead; that the Gospel will not be preached to them; that no messenger from God will convey to them the offers of salvation. .