Something to think about until Sunday - a little Bible study

This psalm - Psalm 130 - is my favourite psalm. Years ago, in spiritual direction, my director, a Trappist monk, gave me this psalm to meditate on. He also gave me some insights into the meaning. I will be forever grateful.

Psalm 130

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.

2 Lord, hear my voice!

   Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!

3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?

4 But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;

6 my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning,   

    more than those who watch for the morning.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love,

   and with him is great power to redeem.

8 It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

    The psalm starts as a prayer from the bottom of the psalmist's soul and situation. In Latin, the psalm begins "De profundis" ("From the depths") and the dictionary says it means "out of the depths of misery or dejection." If this is how we feel, the psalm is perfect for us to speak our piece. Sorrow, sadness, sickness, depression... all these come under this heading, and it includes sin as well. The cry is to the Lord and the speaker asks God to hear. The two phrases of verse 2 are parallels, both saying essentially the same thing. This is quite common in Hebrew poetry.

    The speaker then tells of sin and "iniquity", saying that no one could stand before God should God look at any person's sinfulness. Then comes the "But", and any phrase beginning with "but" says what came before is not true. (It's poetry remember.) With God there is forgiveness, for no other reason than for the praise of God ("So that you may be revered." Some English translations say "so that you may be feared.") The fear of God has more to do with "awe" than anything else. However, facing God would be more fearful than looking over the edge of the Grand Canyon. Anyway, the speaker is certain of forgiveness not because of his/her worthiness, goodness, wallet, piety, or any other reason; only because God is God and God is merciful for God's own sake.

    The speaker waits for the Lord and what the Lord will do with the Word of the Lord. The speaker waits for eagerly than those who watch for the dawn. If you've ever sat up on a camp's fire-watch as the last watch before the break of day, you know the eagerness and desire the watch knows. This is so strong, it's said twice. Hebrew poetry doubles thing for the sake of emphasis and here the exact same phrase is used! 

     "O Israel, hope in the Lord!" The speaker calls for the people of God to be hopeful. Why? Well, they need hope and the fulfillment of that hope can be found in the Lords. (In the Hebrew scriptures, "The Lord" is used as a substitute for the personal name of God, which is not to be spoken aloud. To say a name gives one power over the one whose name is spoken... and what truly devout person would take power over God?) The hope of the people will be fulfilled because "with the Lord there is steadfast love...and great power to redeem." This "steadfast love" is a translation of the Hebrew word "hesed" which really is almost untranslatable. In English, we use "mercy", "loving-kindness", or "kindness." The Hebrew carries the notion of a deep love given in unbreakable loyalty in covenant. It's a word that is much bigger than it sounds. "To redeem" has a lot to do with freedom and the deliverance from slavery or imprisonment. For God's people, God has always been the source and agent of freedom and life. Lastly the speaker says God will save the people, here Israel, from all sin and sinfulness. (There is a difference. Think about it.)

     This is one psalm I've memorized and I've found it worthwhile to pray it. It starts in the deepest pit and ends up on the highest plane. It goes from despair to utter trust and faith. Even if we're not able to "feel" that in our lives and we only know the pit, praying this psalm reminds us that the highest is possible because of the hesed of God. That reminder can be the start or re-start of trust and that trust will not be disappointed.

     This psalm has had many musical and literary settings. Luther wrote a hymn, "Aus tiefer Not schrei ich to dir" which is still found in our hymnal, translated into English.

     Something to think about in this time of depths of isolation, quarantine, sickness, and fear... which may be the most deadly of all, for any of us can fall into fear. Be in awe of God, pray for each other, love your neighbor, be good to each other... and wash your hands.

"... more than watchmen wait for daybreak"