CONTENTS This most precious psalm contains the deep breathings of the soul under a sense of sin; the holy triumphs of the soul in the view of the propitiary, the redemption by Jesus: and the earnest recommendation of a soul that, having found mercy himself, holds forth encouragement to others. A Song of Degrees. read more
Deep calleth unto deep, saith one of old. And when a poor brokenhearted sinner, from, the depths of sin, crieth to the depths of divine mercy, sweet is that frame of soul, and sure to be beard. For it is God the Holy Ghost Which convinceth of sin. It is the same almighty Teacher who puts the cry in the heart to seek for mercy. And he that thus leads to the way, leads to the end; and both point to Christ, and bring to Christ, with an assurance of salvation. Numerous are the examples of this kind... read more
Of David, is not in Septuagint. But he probably composed this psalm to exculpate himself from the accusation of pride. (Berthier) --- It may agree with Esther, Nehemias, &c., 2 Esdras v. 15. (Calmet) --- David proposes his own humility to the imitation of others, without any evil intention. (Worthington) --- Sometimes the saints may speak their own praises, as St. Paul, did, particularly when they are inspired. (Berthier) --- Above me. This deportment is admirable in the great. (Calmet)... read more
So reward, &c. The meaning is, that according to his disposition with regard to humility, so he expected a reward in his soul to return to him, and stick as close to him as the child just weaned, which would willingly never be separated from the mother. (Challoner) --- If I was not humble, may my soul be treated like an infant, &c. Hebrew, "If I did not render (or humble and silence) my soul, like an infant weaned from his mother, let my soul be to me as a weaned child." I willingly... read more
1-4 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 as 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 at once to God, it is in vain for them to expect any relief. The Holy Ghost gives to such poor souls a fresh sense of their deep necessity, to stir them up in earnest applications, by the prayer of faith, by... read more
Prayer for Forgiveness of Sins. A song of degrees, known of old as De Profundis, from its opening words in the Latin version, a sinner's cry to Jehovah for forgiveness and mercy. v. 1. Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O Lord, these depths being those of sin with its resulting distress, calamity, and peril, represented by an abyss of deep waters, whose waves have passed over the writer. v. 2. Lord, hear my voice, the appeal being to the All-powerful to grant deliverance; let Thine... read more
Psalms 130:0A Song of degrees Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.2 Lord, hear my voice:Let thine ears be attentiveTo the voice of my supplications.3 If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities,O Lord, who shall stand?4 But there is forgiveness with thee,That thou mayest be feared.5 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait,And in his word do I hope.6 My soul waiteth for the LordMore than they that watch for the morning:I say, more than they that watch for... read more
“Out of the Depths” Psalms 130:1-8 ; Psalms 131:1-3 The cry , Psalms 130:1-2 . The word Lord occurs as often as there are verses. The soul in trouble repeats again and again that precious Name, in which comfort and help are summed up. The chief cause of anguish , Psalms 130:3-4 , is the memory of our sins. But our iniquities are not marked save by the jewels of forgiveness, like the pearls of an oyster that are set in the place where it was wounded. The soul’s attitude , Psalms 130:5-6... read more
After the backward look there would fittingly be an inward look as the worshipper approached the place of worship. This is always a disquieting look. There is no confession here of specific sins, but the cry is “out of the depths,” and the figure suggests the singer’s sense of deep need. What the cause is may certainly be gathered from the apprehensive sigh, “If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” If the sense is of the nation’s distress with sin. All this is... read more
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James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Psalms 130:1-8
This group is differentiated by the title attached to each: “A Song of Degrees” or “A Song of Ascents.” The title seems derived from the going up of the people to Jerusalem at the great festivals which came three times a year. (Compare Deuteronomy 16:16 ; 1 Kings 12:27-28 , etc.); the thought being that they chanted the psalms at different stages in their journey. The pertinency of this application of these psalms is more apparent in some than others. For example, Psalms 121:0 represents the... read more