Bible Passage: Psalm 130

I. The psalmist, who was a believer and a “God-lover,” landed in “the Depths” (verse 1)

1. The Hebrew noun emek עֵמֶק refers to a valley

2. In Psalms 130:1, its cognate maʿamaqqîm refers to “the depths of the sea” or “the depths of the waters” (cf. Ezek 27:34, Isa 51:10)

a. The waters of the netherworld, Sheol or the Abyss

b. A deep bottomless hole that does not have a stable bottom (a kind of blackhole)

c. A deep place—a place far away from God

d. A place where people and things can drown forever in chaos (cf. Ezek 27:34)

3. Here in Psalm 130:1 the word “the Depths” is used as a metaphor (word picture) for:

a. Personal troubles or distress

b. Affliction or a sea of troubles—an apparent separation from God and a death like situation

c. A bad life situation

4. It seems a humanly inescapable place except for an intervention from God—the believer, i.e., “lover of God” is in “a bad life situation”!

a. The psalmist was not enjoying the Abyss experience

i. Believers end up in the Abyss by chasing mirages

ii. Only in the Abyss will people understand the difference between God and the Abyss

iii. Despite its promises and attractions, believers don’t enjoy the Abyss

b. The psalmist was unable to come out by himself

c. Though God defeated the Abyss/”Depths of the waters” at the creation of the world, at times, it tries to trap believers through

II. What caused the psalmist’s “Abyss experience”?

1. From his confession (cf. verse 3), it looks like “the Depths of waters” situation was caused by his sin and the consequences of his sin

a. Verse 3 “If you, O Lord, were to keep track of sins, O Lord, who could stand before you?”

i. The word “sin” in this verse refers to the transgressions that have consequence(s)

ii. Sin always has consequence

b. On the one hand, the psalmist understands that he is responsible for his predicament, and, on the other hand, he did not want to stay too long in the “Depths of waters” like situation

2. Verse 4 But you are willing to forgive, so that you might be honored

a. Verse 4 starts with an interesting disjunctive particle “on the contrary” or “but”

i. On the one hand, “this is what/where I am” but, on the other hand, “this is what you are”

ii. The psalmist appeals to God’s goodness because the psalmist does not have a merit before God (verse 3 If you, O Lord, were to keep track of sins, O Lord, who could stand before you?)

3. While in the Abyss, the psalmist appeals to the character of God (verse 4 But you are willing to forgive, so that you might be honored)

a. The psalmist knows that the Lord forgives (verse 4)

i. The word sālah refers to divine forgiveness from one’s disobedience to God—this word is never used for human forgiveness

ii. It means suspension of guilt and freedom from distress as a result of sin’s consequences

b. Man cannot survive even a second if God were to deal with for his sins (verse 3)

4. Out of desperation and helplessness, the psalmist cries to God (verses 1-2)

a. Cry (from the deep abyss, he cries to God. Where else he will go?)

b. Listen to my voice/scream

c. Pay attention to

d. The psalmist was willing to wait on God for his deliverance and His word for comfort and hope

i. Verse 5 I rely on the Lord, I rely on him with my whole being; I wait for his assuring word

ii. Verse 6 I yearn for the Lord, more than watchmen do for the morning, yes, more than watchmen do for the morning

III. God answered his cry that (con)firmed his and his nation’s theology (verses 7-8)

1. The LORD exhibits loyal love (verse 7)

2. The LORD is more than willing to deliver sinners (verse 7)

3. The LORD releases His people from the consequences/result of their sins (verse 8)

4. Believers must learn to wait/hope in God and His deliverance (verse 7)

IV. Believers of Jesus (i.e., you and I) sin and end up in the Abyss (sin is really bad, but consequence is worse)

1. All of us were in the Depths of waters due to our sins

a. Rom 6:23 the wages of sin is death

b. Eph 2:1-3 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world

c. In our “Depths of waters,” God substituted His Son our Lord Jesus who said “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” (Mark 15:34)

2. 1 Cor 15:4 Jesus was buried; and that he was raised the third day, according to the scriptures

3. Acts 2:23 Jesus was given up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God

4. 2 Cor 5:20 Him who knew not sin he has made sin for us, that we might become God’s righteousness in him

5. Acts 2:24 God has raised up Jesus, having loosed the pains of death, inasmuch as it was not possible that he should be held by its power

6. God raising Jesus from the death gives Christians “hope” that you don’t need to be in the Abyss forever

7. If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One (1 John 2:1)

8. And He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world (1 John 2:2)

Takeaway:

Cry with confession to God and experience God’s deliverance