Psalm 130: The Mercy Song

For Meditation

The Psalms of Ascent are songs for the journey, prayers that we sing as we make our pilgrimage to the Kingdom. We’ve seen in previous weeks that the journey of discipleship is treacherous, with many external threats and obstacles. But Psalm 130 reveals that there is also an inward journey happening for the disciple, as we plumb the depths of our own hearts.

This Psalm begins with despair. The pilgrim is in the pit, drowning in the depths. What is the source of his despondency? Not the suffering induced by enemies or external threats, but by the shame and guilt in his own heart. He is deeply aware of his sin, and he cries out to God for mercy. Some of us wrestle with guilt, the feeling that I have done something wrong. But nearly all of us wrestle with shame, the feeling that something is wrong with me. How do we find our way out of the depths? Modern therapy may tell us to deny our guilty feelings and think positively, and our escapist tendencies may compel us to stuff our feelings of unworthiness and just keep living. But the psalmist sees the only way out: the God of covenant love. The Psalm gives us a picture of who God really is. He is not a God who condemns us in our sin. He is a God of mercy (v.2), forgiveness (v.4) and unfailing love (v.7). He is a God who sees eveyrthing- he has a complete record of our wrongs- but he does not “keep” the record. He sees all and yet he loves us completely. This is the only way out of despair.

The psalm ends with a call to wait and hope. (v.6-7). We wait with certainty the promise of God’s forgiveness and love when we are in despair, and we call on others to put their hope in the love of God. Our own forgiveness compels us to share the news of this offer with others.

As you prepare for worship this Sunday, meditate on Psalm 130 and ask God to freshly reveal his mercy and love to you.

Psalm 130

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.

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