Click here to read PSALM 130 in poetic form
Background
Psalm 130 is in the Deuteronomy Book of the Psalms (Psalms 107-150). These 44 Psalms, like the Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, show God’s Word as the source of salvation, deliverance, and healing. This would be fully carried out in the life of the coming Messiah, the living Word, Jesus Christ. Whereas Psalm 119 showed that God would raise the Messiah from the dead to eternal life, Psalm 130 is the eleventh of 15 “songs of the degrees” (Psalms 120-134) regarding God keeping Hezekiah alive (see the notes on Psalm 120 for more details).
Psalm 130, written by Hezekiah, shows the Messiah trusting in the Lord from the depths of his being, and waiting for the Lord until the Lord redeems him from evil.
Structure
(Messiah’s trust in the Lord)
(Verses 1-3) Messiah trusts the Lord and cries for help from the depths of his being
(Verse 4) Because God is forgiving, and He can be respected
(Verses 5,6) Messiah trusts the Lord and waits for Him more than the watchman for the dawn
(Verses 7,8) Because God is gracious and kind, and He will redeem from evil
Key Scriptures
Verse 6—“My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.” During the night watch, those on guard longed for the sun to rise. Jesus Christ is “the Sun of righteousness” who arose from the death “with healing in his wings [rays of the sun]” (Malachi 4:2). Jesus Christ brings salvation and light to all who sit in darkness.
There were three watches in Bible times: sunset to about 10 p.m.; 10 p.m. to about 2 a.m.; and 2 a.m. to dawn. Exodus 14:24: “And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians;” Judges 7:19: “So Gideon, and the hundred men that werewith him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands;” and Psalms 119:48: “Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.”
Verse 8—“And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” Jesus Christ is the great redeemer (Titus 2:14) who bought us back from the deceit and violence of the Devil. The Hebrew word for “redeem” refers to a next of kin in Eastern culture. This person could buy back land, carry on a relative’s family (as Boaz did in Ruth), avenge wrongdoing, and save those under duress as in Ruth 4:14.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
You can also hear the author read them aloud on YouTube.
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
