Psalm 130 is the 6th of 7 songs of penitence (repentance or remorse over sin) like Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102 & 143. It expresses the poet’s severe distress he felt over his own iniquities (perverse or crooked ways). IOW, this man knew he wasn’t living “the straight & narrow” life & had deviated multiple times from God’s path of righteousness. Because of that he felt miserable. “Out of the depths” he cried to Yahweh and plead with his sovereign Master to hear his pleas for mercy (1-2). He understood that, if God took watchful notice of his deviations, he would have no leg to stand on before God (much like the wicked in Psalm 1:5) (3).
I, too, have felt miserable over my perverse attitudes, words and actions and have often cried out to God for mercy. I found it, too, much like the poet, who said, “But with you there is forgiveness” (4a). He knew that God had a way of “letting go” and not holding his failures against him. I love that about God! But when I first read the intended outcome of God’s forgiveness in 4b, I was very surprised to read, “… that you may be feared.” I expected something like, “that you may be loved” or served or praised or something other than “feared.” But forgiveness should lead to greater respect of God and a closer relationship with him – never returning to the previous deviations. King Solomon knew the importance of this respectful relationship kind of fear when he dedicated the temple in 1 Kings 8:37-40.
The poet waited humbly for Yahweh to answer his pleas for mercy and hoped in God’s word/promise in the meantime (5). His hope turned to reality, for “the morning” of forgiveness he had eagerly anticipated finally came (6). I’ve experienced that, too. It’s no wonder the poet urged his nation to hope in Yahweh, because “with him there is steadfast love and plentiful redemption” (7). That is so beautiful: committed, covenant love and more than enough redemption to go around for anyone who will ask for God’s mercy. But the psalmist could only hope that someday Yahweh would “redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (8). That day finally came in the person of Jesus Christ, who by the sacrifice of himself on the cross, made it possible for God’s people to pray & confess their sins knowing that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Redemption of all our sins can be found in Jesus Christ alone and accessed by faith in him alone (Romans 3:21-26). For that I’m very grateful.
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