Reflections on Psalms 130

 Psalms 130(Contemporary English Version)

1. (A song for worship.) From a sea of troubles I call out to you, LORD.
   
2. Won't you please listen as I beg for mercy?
   
3. If you kept record of our sins, no one could last long.
   
4. But you forgive us, and so we will worship you.
   
5. With all my heart, I am waiting, LORD, for you! I trust your promises.
   
6. I wait for you more eagerly than a soldier on guard duty waits for the dawn. Yes, I wait more eagerly than a soldier on guard duty waits for the dawn.
   
7. Israel, trust the LORD! He is always merciful, and he has the power to save you.
   
8. Israel, the LORD will save you from all of your sins.

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If the Lord "considered sins . . who could stand?" This is the question the psalmist raised and answered by saying, "But with You (the Lord) there is forgiveness." It was with this understanding that the psalmist was bold enough to approach the Lord in prayer, asking Him to, "listen to my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my cry for help." (130:2) Not only was he emboldened to cry out to the Lord because he knew the Lord forgave sins, but he was desperate for the Lord's help. It was from "the depths" that he called out to the Lord for help.

And then he waited. Having called out to the Lord for help he had done all he could do. Now he must wait for the Lord to redeem Israel. He was as fervent in waiting as he had been in prayer, waiting for the Lord, "more than watchmen for the morning." (130:6) He could wait patiently because he knew that with the Lord, "there is faithful love, and with Him is redemption in abundance." (130:7)

It takes only a little faith to call out to the Lord for help, but it requires an enduring faith to wait on the Lord, trusting He will come through. The Lord knows whether it is best to respond to the need right away or after a while, but I suspect He often waits to respond to test our faith and encourage it to grow it.