Psalm 130

6 June 2021 | Psalm 130 | by Brad Everett |

The prayer of Psalm 130 has been on the lips of the faithful for literally millennia, as successive generations took advantage of these verses to give voice to their prayers and petitions, as they sought to take hold of and give voice to the promises of God in the midst of trial and turmoil.

The first words of this psalm describe a condition we have all been in, are in or can certainly see coming.

“Out of the depths I have called to you O LORD”

What exactly these depths are the psalmist leaves purposefully vague, for there are a variety we can find ourselves caught in and calling out to God.

The depths of sin, as we are confronted with the reality of those transgressions we have committed against God and our neighbour, in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and left undone. All too aware there is nothing we can do in and of ourselves to heal our sin-sick souls.

The depths of sickness, as the ravages of illness take their toll not only on our body, but also our mind and spirit. But we don’t necessarily need to be the ones with the disease to suffer. We know well, as loved ones and caregivers, the struggle involved as those dear to us endure their infirmities. The frustration we feel when we can’t ease their suffering, no matter how much we hope and pray we might.

The depths of darkness, confusion and uncertainty, when we feel stuck in circumstances beyond our control and understanding. At once unable to move out of this mire and even if we could, having no clue as to what direction we might take.

Whatever the depths may be, the rest of the verse directs our attention to God.

“LORD hear my voice; let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication”.

This is in part a plea, but at the same time, as we see in the remainder of the psalm, it’s a declaration of hope and trust. Of course, God will hear and consider well our voice—this is God, our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who has called, redeemed and sustained us. What else would He possibly do?

Yet the goodness of the LORD isn’t presumed or taken for granted. The holiness and graciousness of God stands in stark contrast to our brokenness.

“If you, LORD were to note what is done amiss, O Lord, who could stand?”

We have nothing to commend ourselves, no right to make demands of the LORD as if we are owed anything. Rather we throw ourselves on God’s mercy, trusting not in our own merit but on His compassion and grace.

As the prayer continues:

“For there is forgiveness with you; therefore you shall be feared.”

Let’s not think here of forgiveness narrowly, only in terms of God absolving us of the wrongs we have done, but more expansively as those many and varied means through which our Saviour graciously sees fit to restore us to wholeness of body, mind and spirit—freeing and releasing us from whatever depths we might find ourselves caught in. And for this we fear him, with all the various nuances of that word. Knowing where we find ourselves yet well aware not only the power of God to free us but the staggering graciousness that actually desires and works for our freedom.

Confident in the might and magnanimity of the Lord we pray:

“I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; in his word is my hope. My soul waits for the LORD, more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning”.

We know all too well how powerless we are. If we were able to do anything about our circumstance we would have already. So, faced with our weakness but more importantly God’s goodness and grace, we wait.

But the waiting described by the psalmist is very particular kind of waiting—it is full of confident hope and expectation. Like watchmen wait for the morning. They know morning is coming, it always does. Some nights may feel longer and darker than others—but the watchmen are certain the night will end. The dawn may not necessarily arrive as anticipated i.e. some mornings the sun is blazingly bright, while on others the clouds make for a more muted and gradual illumination, but regardless morning always arrives.

So too for the psalmist and all of us who pray these verses. We wait, not anxiously wondering or worrying if the LORD will act, but confidently anticipating the arrival of the Lord’s salvation. Maybe not exactly on the schedule we’d like or in the manner we had figured, but trusting its sure and certain arrival—just like the dawn.

“O Israel, wait for the LORD, for with the LORD there is mercy; with him there is plenteous redemption, and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins”

The psalm concludes with an affirmation of God’s faithful graciousness. The psalmist’s testimony calls all the faithful to remember not only the LORD’s promises of forgiveness, wholeness, healing and salvation, but that His steadfast love is trustworthy and true—what He promises he will fulfill. This declaration is for all those who find themselves in the depths described in the opening verses—that there is hope and wholeness in God no matter the circumstance.

These verses exhort us to do the same. To share with others as we are able, our own experiences of God’s faithfulness, that they might be reminded of the Lord’s gracious presence in their lives and have their hope renewed. Each of us knows the blessing of this—stumbling along in the depths and upon hearing stories of God’s provision for another, we are reminded we haven’t been left without hope and dare reach out not only for hope but for the One in whom that hope is found.

Testifying to God’s work in our lives in this way also blesses us, keeping our hearts and minds turned to Christ. As we recount instances of our Saviour’s provision for us in the past, we are firmly grounded in his peace. Having His promises in the forefront of our minds, knowing His devotion to fulfilling those vows, we are guarded from hopelessness and despair, no matter what may come. We aren’t exempt from trouble and trial, but are assured of the LORD’s faithful presence and provision, in each and every circumstance which allows us to confidently wait in His love for his salvation.

May the words of this Psalm be found on our lips and in our hearts, that the power of God’s Word would keep us securely in the love and grace of God.