Homilist Psalm 130:1-8 Out of the depths have I cried to you, O LORD.… I. IMPLORING HEAVEN (vers. 1, 2). 1. Heaven alone can deliver. 2. From the greatest depths Heaven can hear the cries. This appeal, therefore, is — (1) Commendable. (2) Wise. (3) Right. (4) Necessary. II. CONFESSING SIN (vers. 3, 4). 1. He identifies suffering with sin. All evils, physical, intellectual, social, religious, and political, spring from moral evil. 2. He identifies deliverance with God's mercy. (1) God is so merciful that He does not "mark iniquities," that is, He does not keep; regain them. Malign natures never forget injuries, benevolent natures cannot retain them. (2) God is so merciful that He forgives men their iniquities. The highest form of love is the forgiving love. (3) Because He is thus so merciful, men can trust Him. "That Thou mayest be feared." Not servilely, but trustfully, lovingly, loyally, cheerfully. Had He not forgiveness in His nature, what rational soul could reverence Him? III. WAITING ON GOD (vers. 5-8). 1. This implies — (1) Trusting in God. Trusting in His wisdom, goodness, and rectitude. (2) Expecting from God. Expecting that He will interpose in mercy, and grant the necessary relief. (3) Vigilance of soul. It is not a passive state of mind, it is watchful and earnest. 2. He exhorts Israel to trust in the Lord — (1) Because there is mercy with Him. The mercy which the sufferer requires, mercy to succour and deliver. (2) Because there is plenteous redemption with Him. There is no limit to His redemptive willingness and ability. "Where sin abounded grace doth much more abound."(3) Because all Israel will one day be redeemed. The author, undoubtedly, had the belief that all evil will one day be swept from the face of the earth. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: {A Song of degrees.} Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. |
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