130:1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
130:2 Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
130:3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
130:4 But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.
130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
130:6 my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than
those who watch for the morning.
130:7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with
him is great power to redeem.
130:8 It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
When in our Music We Find God
When I first started to pastor, a woman who was dying with cancer asked me to sing
this Psalm. At the time it was unfamiliar to me, and I couldn't honor her request. It was
the first time I realized my inadequacies as a pastor. Oh yes, everything turned out ok. I
performed the funeral when she died, and I'm sure I didn't adequate job, but I will always
be aware of my humanity, regarding this Psalm. In the prayer's deepest despair, knowing
their unworthiness, they must wait on God's presence. I truly believe that music, the
singing of a hymn, the playing of an instrument, can be the moment were in our most
distress we find God. Thomas Dorsey's mournful cry upon learning of the death of his son
and wife remind us of this Psalm's message: "Precious Lord, take my hand lead me on
help me stand, I am weak I am tired I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, lead
me own to the right, take my hand, precious Lord lead me on"
Shalom
Pasthersyl
Out of the depths we cry to the Lord.
That does seem to be the time many of us do the bulk of our praying. Perhaps God would
like to hear from us in our good times as well.
In my work in hospice, I have seen music as a handy tool for accessing God's grace,
and there is much written in the hospice literature concerning music therapy. The music
library on the hospice unit of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal is one to be envied
( were that not a mortal sin;-).
In my own personal depths, I find Dvorak's Stabat Mater to be particularly menaingful.
From the opening lines, denoting a deeper despair than anything I have, or ever want to
experience, to the final Paradisi Gloria, it is a masterful journey from despair to joy.
It was certainly more than the Greek Muses who inspired the poet and composer
Something I just noticed (where was my mind wandering???).
The pray-er of this psalm is not praying for him/her-self. The pray-er is praying for
others. The prayer is for the people of God.
Sounds like Ezekiel praying for the bones.
Rick in Canada, eh?
Although I agree with you Rick of Canada that the last 2 verses are a warning to Israel to hope in the Lord, I think the original prayer was one in deep destress. I have sense that some of the words of the Psalms are added words from the priest and Levites who were attending the worshipers as they brought their sacrifices. Here I get a sense of the original prayer pouring his sinfulness before "Yhwh" and knowing that "Yhwh" would hear. Then the leader of worship reminding the congregation to "wait on the steadfast love of the Lord.
Shalom,
Pasthersyl
I've been focusing on the 6th verse. What does it mean to wait for the Lord "more than those who watch for the morning?" What are those things that keep us up at night? - Stress, anxiety, fear. What would it be like to be more trusting in God? What would it be like to "rest soundly" instead of "waiting" rather impatiently for morning to come.I'm playing with the imagery of nighttime wakefulness vs. rest in God. May be a stretch, but I think it's a stretch that many overworked, overstressed, impatient, anxious parishioners need to hear.
Pastor Kerra in PA
I look for the waiting in verse 6 as not one of dread but of hopeful anticipation. I picture God breaking through the depths, past our current reality to rescue/redeem/love... I noticed in some commentaries the root word for wait and hope is the same.
Joseph in SC
In reading this psalm again, I am struck by verse 4 "But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered" It is the connection between forgiveness and reverence that catches my attention. YEars ago a young woman commented about my husband with our infant daughter..."he respects her, she will love him". Somehow they hang together in my mind...the reverence that responds to the forgiveness of the Lord has much love about it. Rambling on...hope it makes sense. Sara from Canada
There are a couple of good prayers about waiting for the morning - one from the Book of Common Prayer:
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the
joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.
There's another for those for whom darkness hides their sins, or for whom night is frightening - can't find that but will keep looking. (Hi, Joseph!)
kbc back home again in sc
