The Songs Of Ascent – Part 14 – Psalm 130 – From Out Of The Depths To God’s Forgiveness Series

THE SONGS OF ASCENT – PART 14 – PSALM 130 – FROM OUT OF THE DEPTHS TO GOD’S FORGIVENESS

Just a reminder that this Psalm forms a collection of 15 psalms that were sung by the pilgrims travelling each year to the feasts of Jehovah in Jerusalem and they came as representatives from all over Israel. As they journeyed along they sang and these psalms were always included. The ascent to Jerusalem was tedious and as they neared the end of their travels their singing was more intense as the goal was close. These are beautiful psalms and the one for today is magnificent, not only for the people of the time but definitely for Christians today.

[A]. DEEP EMOTION CTYING FROM THE DEPTHS

{{Psalm 130:1 “Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD.

Psalm 130:2 Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.”}}

It is interesting to ponder what lays behind this psalm and verses 1 and 3 and 4 give the clue I think. As we proceed we will look at that in detail.

These two verses are ones of pleading but other words that mean much the same are intercession, beseeching, entreating and imploring and supplicating. They also are biblical words. We can’t get into the head of the psalmist but something had happened, and he was in a dire state. When we find ourselves in a position where we begin to feel hopeless, we have to realise there is no solution in ourselves. It is then we know we have to look outside of ourselves.

What had happened to this psalmist? Not being fanciful, I think he had sinned, and in such a way that it caused him trouble that had him in considerable turmoil. When a person sins and confesses that sin he/she puts it right with God, but sometimes confession will not solve problems, if those problems have come from the consequences of sin. I think that is what happened in in the psalmist’s case. Verse 2 indicates it was an ongoing supplication.

He was utterly undone and no human resource could solve his problem. Have any of you ever been in that situation? I have so I feel I can relate to this psalm. We are fragile as human beings and some may put on a brave and strong exterior but it is merely a façade that leaves an empty soul. I think most of these acclaimed celebrities are like that. They parade around and on TV and in films and on the stage greater than life, but in the secret of their isolation, inside they are most miserable. Some end their lives in suicide or drunkenness or drug addiction.

What is wonderful is that the Lord ALWAYS knows all about it, and there is not one of you that undergoes trouble, even deep trouble, that the Lord does not know all of it, or cares for you. It may not seem like it at the time. I have found that there are times when we have difficulties, even great trouble, and we set out trying to solve it all by contacts we have, and other devices, and when it seems we are not getting anywhere, then we pray to God in desperation. And you know what? That should have been the immediate action we should have taken, not the last resort.

The psalmist used the expression, “Out of the depths I cried to You.” What do the depths remind you of? Well I think the ocean, that place where there is no standing for our feet. It speaks of helplessness. One other was in that position. Listen to these words – {{Jonah 2:1-3 Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish, and he said, “I called OUT OF MY DISTRESS to the LORD, and He answered me. I CRIED FOR HELP FROM THE DEPTH OF SHEOL. You heard my voice, for You had cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current engulfed me. All Your breakers and billows passed over me”}}

Jonah was not only in the depths of the sea; he was in the depths of the fish. He knew there was nothing he could do and threw himself entirely on the mercy of God. “Needing a friend to help me in the end, where could I go but to the Lord?” That line is from a Christian song but it is very true.

There was One other who went through that deep experience of trouble and also cried from the depths of emotion and spiritual turmoil. Listen to these words – {{Psalm 69:1-3 “Save me, O God, for the waters have threatened my life. I HAVE SUNK IN DEEP MIRE AND THERE IS NO FOOTHOLD. I have come into deep waters and a flood overflows me. I am weary with MY CRYING. My throat is parched. My eyes fail while I wait for my God.”}}