Psalm 130 is most remarkable in that it leads us from the depthsof hopelessness in sin to a place where hope abides. The hope we discover has its foundation in God’s Word, in His mercy and in the redemption. These are three wondrous reservoirs from which any of us may draw an abundance of hope for whatever may be encroaching upon us with the intention of robbing our hope. Take note in the following verses how the emphasis is on making supplication to the LORD.

Psalm 130:1—Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, O LORD.
(TNIV) Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD; St. Augustinesaid, “...when he crieth from the deep, he riseth from the deep, and his very cry allows him not to be long at the bottom.” The supplicant has cried.Every one prays; but very few “cry.” But of those who do “cry to God”, the majority would say,—”I owe it to the depths. I learned it there. I often prayed before; but never—till I was carried down very deep—did I cry.

2 Lord, hear my voice: let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
(TNIV) Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive  to my cry for mercy. It is the voice of my supplications that comes before the Lord. The voice means there is a sound coming forth, whether it be heard by any other person or only by the attentive ear of the Lord. The prayer need never be heard by another person unless it is for the purpose of agreement.

3 If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
(TNIV) If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? There would be no hope for any person unless it come from the heart of God. Our sin would shut us out if it were not for the mercy of Him Who will no longer keep a record of the sinner who confesses.

4 But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.
(TNIV) But with you there is forgiveness,  so that we can, with reverence, serve you. It is in God’s forgiveness that hope turns into expectation. The fear of which the Psalmist speaks isthat deep reverence for the Lord. Iniquity shuts hope out; through God’s infinite mercy, He can set us free from its stronghold.

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in His Word do I HOPE.
(TNIV) I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

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.
(TNIV) I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

 

“Dear Lord, I take You at Your Word, and am resolved by Your grace to wait at the door of Your promise, never to stir thence till I have my promised dole (relief), which is the forgiveness of my sins, sent out unto me. It is my hope that as I wait, I shall be rewarded with Your gracious presence. What greater reward for one’s hope is there than to know Him close and loving? Nothing!” (Matthew Henry)