Psalm 130 has been used frequently in hymns in large part due to conveying the emotions of a penitent individual in a short yet depth filled text. Verse 1, which says, “Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord,” implies a sense of drowning in sin so deep that only God is able to rescue the sinner. In addition, The repetition of the phrase, “more than watchmen wait for the morning,” in verse 6 shows the desperation for God’s forgiveness and the eagerness to be reconciled to him.
However, this also functions as a prophetic text, as it reveals God’s distinct nature that is shown more fully once Jesus lives on earth than in previous times. In verses 3-4, it is explained that God does not rule against us for our sins when given His gift of forgiveness. There is also the key understanding that without God’s forgiveness, all fall short of the glory of God, as verse 3 says, “If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?” Considering the hyper-focus on the law and deeds determining goodness that would develop among the Jews by the time Jesus began his ministry, it is interesting to see that the doctrine of grace already had seeds in Judaism that went largely unrecognized. In addition, verses 7-8 describe God as having unfailing love and deliverance from sin. Again, these are concepts that were largely forgotten by the time of Jesus’ arrival. Jesus would make these evident in his own time among us. 1 John 4:9-10 says, “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” So Psalm 130 anticipates the revelation that it is impossible for mankind to make up for our sins and that God seeks to provide redemption through love.
*All verses cited are from the New International Version (NIV) translation of the Holy Bible.