Psalm 130, Watching for Redemption

A song of ascents.

 

This is the eleventh of fifteen psalms identified as "songs of ascents." It is likely that these songs were sung as people traveled to Jerusalem and then went up to the second temple. This psalm is also a penitential psalm, traditionally (says Kidner) the six of seven such psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143.)

Psalm 130:1-3, Plea for mercy

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;

 O Lord, hear my voice. 

Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, 

O Lord, who could stand?

The psalmist calls from the depths (Hebrew maamaqqim), synonymous with the depths of the sea, close to the gates of Sheol. This song is a plea, from deep despair, for forgiveness and mercy, a plea that the singer's sins not be recorded. 

Psalm 130:4, Forgiveness and fear

 But with you there is forgiveness;

 therefore you are feared.

Here is an explicit plea for forgiveness. Because powerful YHWH forgives, says the psalmist, he is to be feared, that is, we are to respond with awe (Alter.)

Psalm 130:5-6, Watching, watching

 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, 

and in his word I put my hope.

 My soul waits for the Lord 

more than watchmen wait for the morning, 

more than watchmen wait for the morning.

The psalmist waits expectantly for YHWH, just as the night watchman looks for the first light of dawn.

Wordplay centers around the verb shamar (שָׁמַר.) This verb generally means to guard or to watch over but in verse 3, above, the psalmist worries that YHWH will keep/watch/record his sins. Now shamar is the root of the word "watchmen" (Hebrew mishshomerim), and is also the verb translated "wait" by the NIV. Just as the psalmist worries that YHWH watches his sins, he now commits to watching, like the watchmen, for an answer. 

Psalm 130:7-8, Redemption for Israel

 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, 

for with the LORD is unfailing love

 and with him is full redemption.

 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

The One who forgives individuals also forgives Israel. Israel too needs redemption.

Some Hebrew Vocabulary

The verb shamar 

שָׁמַר

means to guard or to watch over.

First published November 13, 2025; updated November 13, 2025