What does Psalm 130:2 mean?

A common request in psalms is for the Lord to hear or pay attention to a prayer (Psalm 30:10; 64:1; 119:145). This doesn't imply that God doesn't notice certain prayers (Psalm 94:9–10). Rather, it emphasizes that the person praying believes they have a relationship with the Lord such that He will answer (Psalm 17:5–6; John 9:31). Their cry is that the Lord consider and grant the request. The psalmist asks for mercy. This can imply rescue from some danger (Psalm 69:14–16); it may also suggest that the psalmist has sinned and is asking the Lord's forgiveness (Psalm 130:3–4; Hebrews 4:16).

This prayer resembles Solomon's dedication of the temple (2 Chronicles 6:41), which included a plea for the Lord to maintain His loyal love for the lineage of David (2 Chronicles 6:42). The apostle Peter recognized God's willingness to answer prayer. He quotes from Psalm 34 in 1 Peter 3:12: "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer."