Read Psalm 130
A song of ascents.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
Editor's Note
Psalms 120-134 are known as the “Psalms of Ascent” or “Pilgrim Songs.” Every year as the Jews traveled uphill towards the city of Jerusalem to participate in one of the three Jewish festivals, these are the songs they would sing. They became a staple of the pilgrimage to Jerusalem back then and now they serve as a helpful template for us as we worship today.
Go Deeper
We all can relate to crying out for mercy from God. Some cries are from the seemingly unrelenting troubles of this world and some are due to the consequences of our sin. This psalm refers to the latter. Believers in Christ have much to learn and grow from its truths.
Psalm 130 is known as one of the seven psalms of repentance, similar to David’s Psalms 6, 32 and 51. Though we are unclear the exact circumstances that prompted the writing of it, verse 8 points towards Israel waiting for redemption of their sins. We see repeatedly in the Old Testament that Israel’s lack of faith and trust in God lead them to turn from Him and seek their own answers to their problems. We are no different today. We seek earthly pleasure to hide from pain or control when our life is spinning out. This psalm shows us we serve a God who keeps no record of our sins (v. 3), forgives us (v. 4), and has unfailing love and full redemption for us (v. 7). Through Christ, we see the evidence of this truth fulfilled. Ephesians 1:7 says that in Christ we have redemption and forgiveness of our sins. Ephesians 2:8 tells us that we are saved by God’s grace alone. If believers in Christ simply confess our sin to God, He will forgive us and cleanse us (1 John 1:9). What a loving and forgiving God!
Another truth addressed in this psalm is found in verses 5 and 6: waiting. The word is repeated 5 times within these 2 verses. Here the Israelites are waiting for God to redeem their sins. Waiting is a reality we all face probably every day. Some waiting is more excruciating: a result from a biopsy, a successful pregnancy after many failed attempts, or a prodigal return to the faith. We cry out to God, waiting for His answer. In verse 5, we are instructed to put our hope in His word in our waiting. God has laid out promises to us throughout Scripture for us to trust in. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us that if we lay our anxiety and requests before God, His peace will guard us. He sees us in our waiting.
Put your trust in the God that has forgiven all of our sins and gives us hope through His Word while we wait. Cry out to Him with whatever you are walking through today.
Questions
- Have you put your trust in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins? If so, thank Him for this truth!
- Does your life reflect the reality of His forgiveness? Are you reverently serving Him in response (v. 4)?
- What promises of hope do you need to hear from Him today while you wait? Do a word search in Scripture for His truth to you.
Keep Digging
For a list of God’s promises to you, read this. It includes our promise of forgiveness and salvation along with many more we can cling to while we wait.
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4 thoughts on “Psalms of Ascent: Psalm 130”
The lyrics of “Sovereign Over Us” by Michael W. Smith resonate with this Psalm:
There is strength within the sorrow
There is beauty in our tears
And you meet us in our mourning
With a love that casts out fear
You are working in our waiting
You’re sanctifying us
When beyond our understanding
You’re teaching us to trust
Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You’re with us in the fire and the flood
You’re faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us
What should be our response to the One who keeps no record of our sins but instead offers forgiveness and redemption? Reverence and offering our lives in service to him is key. It seems all history has been waiting either for the first or second coming of Christ. The scarlet thread will one day be revealed in all his glory, not as a babe in a manger, but as King of kings and Lord of all. This will be worth all the waiting and sorrow!
Merry Christmas!
Amen, Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!!!
I am so thankful for God’s birth in me. It is up to me to continue with growing up of this birth. This Psalm today is showing us that we will have troubles, BUT GOD has the solutions. The Word of God is our instruction book for life, all of life. When life throws us ugly situations it is easy to turn to what we know, this worldly “fixes”. The better/best answer is the Word of God. It is living and active Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The Word will reveal truth and the intentions of my heart. We need the armour of the God to fight Eph 6: 10-18
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
God’s Word is a lamp and a light for my path Psalm 119:105. Letting God’s Word dwell richly in me Col 3:16. God’s Word all His promises are yes, and amen 2 Cor 1:20. We can count on God but man will always always let us down, because they are human. God in His grace mercy and love desires us for Himself. He loves us so much that He gave John 3:16 the best Christmas present EVER.
What would happen if someone pulled on your thread, the one holding your life together? I hope Jesus would be helping hold it all together.
God thank You for Your son. Thank You for anyone out there that is having a loose thread that is coming unraveled. God put someone their path to show them the best knitter/crocheter, Jesus the Christ that can keep it all from coming undone. God thank You for us remembering the reason for the season all year long not just now. God thank You for living, walking, and talking about You. Thank You for an amazing day to give You glory in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!
As I read the BRP this morning, I am waiting some what like the watchmen mentioned in v 6. I am waiting for my grown children, who are in town visiting, to wake up to begin to exchange of gifts.
As children, they could not wait. They would wake my wife and I up super early Christmas morning as they could see the presents under the tree, but they couldn’t open any until we were all awake. While they waited they would check out the presents and prepare for what they would open first.
The Israelites waited and waited and waited for the redeemer and they missed Him when he was born.
As we celebrate Christ’s birth today, we now wait for His return. Let us prepare for that arrival with the same excitement of a child on Christmas morning.
Blessings!