Scriptural text: Psalm 130
Lesson Context: Psalm 130 is written capturing the suffering and depravity of the Israelites’ during the 70 year Babylonian captivity of Israel (Jerusalem). Psalm 130 moves the pilgrims from an attitude of despair (v. 1) to one of supreme confidence in God’s saving work (vv. 7-8). When the one singing focuses on his or her personal suffering, fear and sorrow can overtake faith. But when the focus shifts toward God’s inclination to save and the consequent hope that the entire people may enjoy, the mood may change to hope. So it is here.
Address to the Lord (Psalm 130:1-6): A. God Listens (vv. 1-2).
1. “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.”
The only way of relief for a sin-entangled soul, is by applying to God alone. Many things present themselves as diversions, many things offer themselves s remedies, but the soul finds that the Lord alone can heal. And until men are sensible of the guilt of sin, and quit all to come once to God, it is in vain to expect any relief. (Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary). The psalmist is not in danger of drowning for ( or how could he write) and may not literally be about to die. But many different forms of suffering can feel like death-from physical ailments to relational estrangements and beyond. In all circumstances-even as far from God as the Israelites could imagine, at the bottom of a body of water-we can still call on the Lord. (International Sunday School Lessons, KJV 2023-2024).
2. “Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.” The plea to God is emphasized using poetic
B. God Forgives (vv. 3-4).
If thou Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” In asking for God to help, the psalmist also understood that he had no confident reason to ask or to be heard by God apart from His great forgiveness. Without this graciousness, no one could stand before Yahweh Adonai (You, Lord, ..O Lord). Tis true, the Lord marks all iniquity to know it, but he doth not mark any iniquity in his children to condemn them for it: so the meaning of the Psalm is, that if the Lord should mark sin with a strict and severe eye, as a judge, to charge it upon the person sinning, no man could bear it.” (Caryl, cited in Spurgeon).
ll. Address to Israel (Psalm 130:7-8): a. Hope in God (v. 7).
7a. “Let Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is mercy.” With this verse phrasing turns from the personal to the public. What the psalmist learned in waiting upon God and trusting Him from the depths is now put to use as he calls upon Israel to put their hope in Yahweh Adonai.
B. Receive Redemption (V. 8). 8. “And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” This is the confident conclusion to the poem, demonstrating trust that God will indeed bring the redemption and rescue to both the individual and the nation overwhelmed in the depths of their sin. What God has demonstrated in the private life, He will also perform for the community that cries out to Him. (David Guzik’s Bible Commentary).