Bible Commentaries

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

Psalms 130:1-8.-Out of deep distress Israel cries to Yahweh, casting herself on God's mercy not to mark her iniquity (Psalms 130:1-4); she waits for it more than they who wait for morning, so she may hope in Yahweh, who shall redeem her (Psalms 130:5-8). The spiritual Israel ought so to wait on Yahweh as the only way to peace and deliverance from trial. The occasion is the same as that of the other songs of degrees, or pilgrim songs-namely, the low state of the Jews after the return from Babylon.

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord - Hebrew, Yahweh. Like Jonah, "out of the belly of hell" (Jonah 2:2). Intense sorrow is often compared to deep waters or a pit (Psalms 40:2; Psalms 69:2; Psalms 69:14; Isaiah 51:10).

Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

Lord, hear my voice; let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications (Psalms 28:2) - Hebrew, Adonai. As Yahweh marks His unchangeable faithfulness to His premises of delivering His people, so Adonai His Lordship over all hindrances in the way of His delivering them.

If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? "Mark" - i:e., take strict account of iniquities (Job 10:14; Job 14:16; Psalms 90:8). "Stand" is a legal term for, be justified (cf. Psalms 143:2). To fall - i:e., to be condemned-is the opposite term (cf. note, Psalms 1:5; Psalms 18:38; Psalms 20:8). If thou, Jah (the concentrated essence of all that Yahweh implies), shouldest mark mine iniquities which are the cause of my sufferings, then I should have no hope of deliverance "O Lord (Adonai), who should stand?" But thou will not mark them.

But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

But - rather, in the usual sense of the Hebrew [ kiy ], "FOR" (see note, Psalms 130:3, for the ellipsis), which requires for, not but, to follow here.

There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. The knowledge of God's character as, "forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin" (Exodus 34:7), gives the hope of acceptance with Him, and deliverance from sin's penalty. So men who by the Spirit are taught what God is, are instinctively led to come and reverently worship Him with the 'fear,' not of trembling slaves, but of loving sons. A harsh God (such as the devil pictures God to the unregenerate) would either be shunned altogether, or be worshipped only in order that He might not hurt us (as the pagan worship their gods). But the sense of God's forgiveness leads His children lovingly to reverence Him, and to shrink with fear from all that would offend Him (1 Kings 8:39-40).

I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait. The Lord will wait, that He may be gracious unto them that wait for Him (Isaiah 30:18; Psalms 27:14).

And in his word do I hope - i:e., in His word of premise (Psalms 119:74; Psalms 119:81-82; Psalms 119:114; Psalms 119:147). We must not only hope, but wait patiently the Lord's time of realizing our hope. On the other hand, we must not only wait, but blend believing hope with our waiting-not wait in apathy, much less wait as those tired of hoping and so ceasing to hope (Habakkuk 2:3).

My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

My soul (waiteth) for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning; (I say more than) they that watch for the morning - `more than watchmen,' who, keeping watch all night, look forward with eagerness Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me - literally, 'neither do I walk in great matters;' i:e., in an ambitious course of life (Psalms 1:1). "Too high" - literally, 'too wonderful for me;' above my sphere and my powers (Psalms 139:6). Job had once done so; but when taught by affliction he ceased to 'utter things too wonderful for him, which he knew not' (Job 42:3). The true way to be great is (as the Lord told Baruch, Jeremiah 45:5) not to 'seek great things for ourselves' now.