Hear My Voice! Psalm 130. Hear My Voice! “Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my...

Hear My Voice!Hear My Voice!

Psalm 130


“Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy” (vv 1-2, ESV).


“Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy” (vv 1-2, ESV).

Through the ages, this text has provided comfort to countless folks experiencing deep grief.


Who among us hasn’t experienced “the depths”?


The context of these words isn’t grief in general.


The context of these words isn’t grief in general.◦This Psalm wasn’t written at a time of personal grief &

calamity.



calamity.◦This Psalm comes from a time of personal sin.




“If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared” (vv 3-4, ESV).





The psalmist has sinned & he pleads with God for forgiveness & healing.


A CRYA CONFESSIONA CERTAINTYA COUNSEL


A Cryvv 1-2


“Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!” (vv 1-2, ESV).


The psalmist cries to the LORD out of “the depths.”


The psalmist cries to the LORD out of “the depths.”◦Throughout the Old Testament, “the depths” stand for

great distress.



great distress. “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.

I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me” (Ps 69:1-2, ESV).



great distress. “Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.

I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me” (Ps 69:1-2, ESV).

“You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me” (Jon 2:3, ESV).



Thus, the psalmist is experiencing the deep distress of sin.



Thus, the psalmist is experiencing the deep distress of sin.◦We don’t know if “the depths” refer to guilt or

punishment.




punishment.◦We all know that sin brings punishment.





The letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians “grieved [them] into repenting” (2 Cor 7:9, ESV).






The Prodigal grieved over his sins & determined to return to his father and confess his sins.






The Prodigal grieved over his sins & determined to return to his father and confess his sins.

After Peter denied knowing Jesus, “he went out and wept bitterly” (Mt 26:75, ESV).


Who hasn’t experienced deep grief because of sin?


We also know that sin brings punishment.


We also know that sin brings punishment.◦At the time this Psalm was written, God punished people

directly for their sins.



directly for their sins. Because David sinned with Bathsheba, God promised him

that the sword would never depart from his house, that one of his sons would lie with his wives in the sight of all Israel, & that the child conceived from the adultery would die (2 Sm 12:10-14).




that the sword would never depart from his house, that one of his sons would lie with his wives in the sight of all Israel, & that the child conceived from the adultery would die (2 Sm 12:10-14).◦Every single word came true.




that the sword would never depart from his house, that one of his sons would lie with his wives in the sight of all Israel, & that the child conceived from the adultery would die (2 Sm 12:10-14).◦Every single word came true.◦“When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my

groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the head of summer” (Ps 32:3-4, ESV).




that the sword would never depart from his house, that one of his sons would lie with his wives in the sight of all Israel, & that the child conceived from the adultery would die (2 Sm 12:10-14).

So many suffered immediately for their sins—Nadab & Abihu, Uzziah, etc.



directly for their sins.◦While great punishment awaits the unrepentant after

this life, I believe God still punishes sin on earth.




this life, I believe God still punishes sin on earth. David prayed that God would not remove the Holy Spirit

from him (Ps 51:11).





from him (Ps 51:11). If God removes the Holy Spirit from us, we no longer belong to Christ (Rom 8:9).





from him (Ps 51:11). If God removes the Holy Spirit from us, we no longer belong to Christ (Rom 8:9).

If we are unrepentant, our prayers will not have “great power” (Js 5:16).


Because of his sins, the psalmist asks God to hear his voice.


Because of his sins, the psalmist asks God to hear his voice.Do you, because of your sins, need to ask God to hear your voice?


A Confessionvv 3-4


The Hebrew word, as it is used here, means to “store up.”


The Hebrew word, as it is used here, means to “store up.”◦This is the term Joseph used to tell Pharaoh to store up

grain for seven years.



grain for seven years.◦“Let them gather all the food of these good years that

are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it” (Gen 41:35, ESV).



grain for seven years.◦“Let them gather all the food of these good years that

are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it” (Gen 41:35, ESV).

◦The idea is one of God’s storing up all past sins so that he can use them against the righteous.


If God were to do such, even the righteous could not stand before him.


If God were to do such, even the righteous could not stand before him.

“Stand” could mean a couple things here.


“Stand” could refer to passing through judgment.


“Stand” could refer to passing through judgment.◦“The wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners

in the congregation of the righteous” (Ps 1:5, ESV).


“Stand” could refer to passing through judgment.◦“The wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners

in the congregation of the righteous” (Ps 1:5, ESV).◦ If that’s what’s intended, not even the righteous could

pass through the judgment if God kept a record of wrongs.


“Stand” could also mean to be in God’s presence.


“Stand” could also mean to be in God’s presence.◦“Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall

stand in his holy place?” (Ps 24:3, ESV).


“Stand” could also mean to be in God’s presence.◦“Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall

stand in his holy place?” (Ps 24:3, ESV).◦ If “stand” has that connotation here, not even the

righteous could draw near to worship if God kept a record of sins.


God, however, keeps no record of sins, for with him there is forgiveness!


God, however, keeps no record of sins, for with him there is forgiveness!◦God is so full of forgiveness!



God “will tread our iniquities under foot. [He] will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Mic 7:19, ESV).



God “will tread our iniquities under foot. [He] will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Mic 7:19, ESV).

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9, ESV).



How wonderful it is to know that “with [God] there is forgiveness”!



How wonderful it is to know that “with [God] there is forgiveness”!◦No matter what we’ve done, God stands ready to forgive!



How wonderful it is to know that “with [God] there is forgiveness”!◦No matter what we’ve done, God stands ready to forgive!◦Has God forgiven you of your sins?


A Certaintyvv 5-6


“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning” (vv 5-6, ESV).


The psalmist’s soul waits for the LORD & hopes in his word.


The psalmist’s soul waits for the LORD & hopes in his word.◦“Wait” in Hebrew refers to “patient expectation.”



Specifically, the term often carried the idea of confidently waiting for God to act for the salvation of his people.




“I wait for your salvation, O LORD” (Gn 49:18, ESV).




“I wait for your salvation, O LORD” (Gn 49:18, ESV).◦Thus, the psalmist is confidently expecting God to

forgive his sins.


What could be the basis of such a confident expectation?


What could be the basis of such a confident expectation?“I hope in his word.”


“His word” likely refers to the covenant promises of God.


“His word” likely refers to the covenant promises of God.

God has promised to forgive the sins of his remnant & the psalmist knew, therefore, that God would do so.


We, likewise, know that God will forgive our sins, for he has promised to do so.


We, likewise, know that God will forgive our sins, for he has promised to do so.◦“‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after

those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,’ then he adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more’” (Heb 10:16-17, ESV).




◦“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9, ESV).




◦“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9, ESV). God is “faithful . . . to forgive us our sins” because he has

promised to!




◦“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9, ESV). God is “faithful . . . to forgive us our sins” because he has

promised to! “He is . . . just to forgive us our sins,” for in forgiving God is

doing what is right, i.e., just.


Thus, the psalmist’s soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.



There is absolutely beautiful poetry here.



There is absolutely beautiful poetry here.◦The psalmist has just repeated the idea of confident

expectation four times: “wait” (3 times) & “hope” (1 time).





◦Now, he repeats “more than watchmen for the morning” twice.





◦Now, he repeats “more than watchmen for the morning” twice.

◦The aim is to bring the Psalm to a crescendo, where the reader is filling the same expectation.


The watchmen guarded the city from an attack at night.


The watchmen guarded the city from an attack at night.◦As the watchmen joyfully anticipate the morning, so the

psalmist joyfully anticipates God’s forgiveness.



psalmist joyfully anticipates God’s forgiveness.◦Of course, the watchmen knew that, without a doubt, the

morning would come.



psalmist joyfully anticipates God’s forgiveness.◦Of course, the watchmen knew that, without a doubt, the

morning would come.Just as the watchmen knew that the morning

would come, the psalmist knows that God’s forgiveness will come.


A Counselvv 7-8


“O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (vv 7-8, ESV).


The psalmist urges his countrymen to do as he does—hope in the Lord.


The psalmist urges his countrymen to do as he does—hope in the Lord.

The Israelites had every reason to hope in the Lord, for he has both steadfast love & redemption.


“Steadfast love” refers to “unfailing love.”


“Steadfast love” refers to “unfailing love.”◦The idea is that God’s mercy, his concern for his people,

does not stop.



does not stop.◦The Hebrew term refers to the loyalty of kings to their

subjects.




subjects. The king & the people would enter into a covenant.




subjects. The king & the people would enter into a covenant. The people would be loyal to the king & their loyalty was

described as “steadfast love.”




subjects. The king & the people would enter into a covenant. The people would be loyal to the king & their loyalty was

described as “steadfast love.” The king’s fulfilling his obligations of the covenant was also

described as “steadfast love.”


God has “steadfast love” in that he kept his covenant promises to the children of Abraham.


God has “steadfast love” in that he kept his covenant promises to the children of Abraham.◦God keeps “steadfast love for thousands, forgiving

iniquity and transgression and sin” (Ex 34:7, ESV).


God has “steadfast love” in that he kept his covenant promises to the children of Abraham.◦God keeps “steadfast love for thousands, forgiving

iniquity and transgression and sin” (Ex 34:7, ESV).◦God’s “steadfast love” means that he will forgive

“iniquity and transgression and sin.”


With God is plentiful redemption.


With God is plentiful redemption.◦We typically think of redemption in New Testament

terms where Jesus’ blood redeems us from sin.


With God is plentiful redemption.◦We typically think of redemption in New Testament

terms where Jesus’ blood redeems us from sin. That’s right to do, for Jesus has redeemed us from sin.


With God is plentiful redemption.◦ In the Old Testament, however, “redemption” often

refers simply to an “exchange.”



refers simply to an “exchange.” Land that had to be sold to pay a debt could be redeemed by

the debtor’s nearest relative (Lev 25:25).



refers simply to an “exchange.” Land that had to be sold to pay a debt could be redeemed by

the debtor’s nearest relative (Lev 25:25). Slaves could also be redeemed by the slave’s nearest

relative (Lev 25:47-55).



refers simply to an “exchange.”◦The term also refers to salvation from terrible

circumstances.




circumstances. “The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the

boys” (Gn 48:16, ESV).




circumstances. “The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the

boys” (Gn 48:16, ESV). “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the

burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment” (Ex 6:6, ESV).


God would deliver the psalmist from “the depths” by forgiving his sins.


God would deliver the psalmist from “the depths” by forgiving his sins.

God has “plentiful redemption,” and he is able, therefore, to forgive the sins of all his people.


Throughout the Psalm, the author is making an important point in an intriguing way.


Throughout the Psalm, the author is making an important point in an intriguing way.◦ In Hebrew, the are two terms that are translated “Lord.”


Throughout the Psalm, the author is making an important point in an intriguing way.◦ In Hebrew, the are two terms that are translated “Lord.”◦The first is YHWH, the name by which Moses revealed

himself to Moses at the burning bush.



himself to Moses at the burning bush. Because the Jews were afraid of taking God’s name in vain,

they stopped pronouncing the name & inserted “Lord” when they read from the Old Testament.



himself to Moses at the burning bush. Because the Jews were afraid of taking God’s name in vain,

they stopped pronouncing the name & inserted “Lord” when they read from the Old Testament.

Most English translations continue that practice by translating YHWH as “LORD” (all caps).



himself to Moses at the burning bush.◦The second is “Adonai.”




This is the term that means God is divine, that he is Master.




This is the term that means God is divine, that he is Master. The psalmist uses “Adonai” throughout this Psalm.


The psalmist could count on YHWH’s hearing his cry because he was his personal “adonai.”


The psalmist could count on YHWH’s hearing his cry because he was his personal “adonai.”

The psalmist had accepted the Lord has his personal Lord; therefore, he knew that he would hear his voice.


Is God the Lord of your life?


Is God the Lord of your life?Do you know that he will answer you?

Hear My Voice! Psalm 130. Hear My Voice! “Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my...

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