Psalms 130 - Printer Friendly

One of the "songs of ascent" (Psalms 120—134), this psalm focuses on God's offer of forgiveness. It begins with a prayer for mercy and ends with a call for Israel to rely on the Lord.

First, the psalmist prays for mercy. This sometimes means rescue from enemies (Psalm 69:14–16) but it also applies to the consequences of sin. In a moment of deep pain and despair, this prayer admits that God is perfect, while no person is (Romans 3:10). There are no excuses when then Lord accuses one of sin; no person can escape judgment. Yet the Lord is not merely righteous; He is also merciful, offering forgiveness. This should inspire people to properly "fear" the Lord (Proverbs 1:7) in worship and obedience (Psalm 130:1–4).

The psalmist intends to trust in God for an answer to prayer. This "waiting" involves patience as well as attention. The text compares this to how nighttime watchmen would eagerly hope to see the sun rise. That would mean their night was done and they could now rest. After concluding the prayer, the psalmist encourages faith. God offers redemption and a "steadfast love" noted by the word hesed. This is a consistent, unending love. Because of that love, God promises to save those who come to Him in faith (John 3:16–18) and to redeem the nation of Israel through a Messiah (Psalm 130:5–8).

Psalm 130:1–2 is prayed during some extreme difficulty. The psalmist seeks rescue from a situation which may have been caused by his own sin (Psalm 130:3–4). In the original Hebrew, the author uses two distinct words. One is Yahweh, the name claimed by God Himself (Exodus 3:15). The other is Adonai, a term literally meaning "Lord."

Psalm 130:3–4 notes that there is no defense against accusations from God. He is perfect and His judgment is absolute. However, He also offers forgiveness which inspires men to revere Him (Psalm 103:10–11). As in prior verses, this segment uses two unique words for God. One is Yahweh (Exodus 3:15). The other is Adonai, which literally refers to a "Lord."

Psalm 130:5–6 declares a willingness to wait for God to respond to prayers for mercy (Psalm 130:1–2). A perfect God does not need to forgive anyone's sin (Psalm 130:3–4), but His constant and enduring love (Psalm 130:7–8) inspire confidence (Hebrews 4:16). Night watchmen eagerly await the dawn which means their work is done; in the same way the psalmist anticipates God's comforting forgiveness. Both Yahweh (Exodus 3:15) and Adonai—meaning "Lord"—are used here to refer to God.

Psalm 130:7–8 calls on the people of Israel to trust God because of His steady, persistent, merciful love. This trait is labeled with the Hebrew word hesed (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 17:7; 103:10–11). Prior segments alternated between the words Yahweh and Adonai in reference to God. Here, the psalmist repeats the first, which is the name the Lord used when speaking to Moses (Exodus 3:15). Israel is referred to as "he" in some translations because this is the name of the nation's namesake patriarch (Genesis 32:28).

The Lord is absolutely right to judge sin. Nothing can match the standard of His perfection. So, the psalmist asks forgiveness and mercy, trusting entirely in God's nature. This hope is constant and sincere. The Lord is associated with loyal, persistent, caring love for the people of Israel. Despite the sins of the nation, God is ready to redeem them. The first three of four small segments alternate between two common words for God; the last only repeats the word Yahweh (Exodus 3:15).

Jerusalem is located on a series of mountains; going to the city meant ascending these slopes. Songs used by pilgrims headed to required feasts there (Deuteronomy 16:16) are labeled "of ascents" (Psalms 120—134). Each focuses on a theme. Here, the subject matter is the Lord's forgiveness towards the sins of His people. This ties to the idea of His mercy (Deuteronomy 4:31; Psalm 18:25; 111:4). It also connects to His loyal, steady love, from the important Hebrew term hesed (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 86:5; 103:4; Lamentations 3:22).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.