Psalm 130:1-8 NKJV
A Song of Ascents.
130 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
And in His word I do hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord
More than those who watch for the morning—
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is mercy,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
8 And He shall redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.
For our inspiration on this psalm today we turn to Dr. Martin Luther. Not only did he write an excellent hymn based on these psalm words (“From Depths Of Woe I Cry To Thee”, TLH 329), but he also penned the following introduction to Psalm 130:
“[This psalm] confesses that before God no one is righteous, nor may one become righteous by his own work and righteousness, but only through grace and forgiveness of sins, which God has promised. The psalmist comforts himself as he relies on this promise and Word. He exhorts all of Israel that they should do the same and learn that with God is a throne of grace and redemption. Through Him alone and no way else shall Israel be freed from sins, that is, ’through forgiveness’ (without which there is no grace) become righteous and blessed. Apart from this, he truly would be in the depths and would never stand before God” (Reading the Psalms with Luther, p. 314).
This psalm is also one of the seven Penitential Psalms that Christians are encouraged to pray frequently as they go about their lives with the constant and loving Scriptural reminder that we are all sinful from conception and will face trials, disappointments, and grief in this life. That is simply part and parcel of life in this sinful world, and we should neither let despair overcome us nor listen to false prophets and preachers that insist that God wants all His people happy in this life.
But our joy and strength come from our good and gracious God who gave up His Son, Jesus, to bear all our sins and griefs so that we can say, “Lord, hear my voice,” and know that He does. His mercy and promise of forgiveness through faith in Him gives us courage, hope, and something very wonderful to look forward to in the life of the world to come, for with Him is abundant redemption, strength, and eternal peace.
Let us pray: O God, the Strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without You, grant us the help of Your grace that in keeping Your commandments we may please You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.