This week’s readings include Psalm 130, a short individual lament that showcases Yahweh’s forgiving nature. The author begins by calling out to Yahweh for help in the depths of his despair. As we read through the psalm, you may notice the verses are numbered differently in the lectionary insert than they are in the Bible. That’s because the lectionary uses a version of the Psalter written by Miles Coverdale, dating back to the early days of the Anglican Church, and his numbering system sometimes differs from the biblical design. Coverdale’s version of Psalm 130 has seven verses rather than the eight listed in most English Bibles. His first verse is separated into two in other translations. We should remember that chapters and verses were not part of Scripture originally. Chapter designations were added in the 12th century, and verses were added to the Old Testament in the 15th century and the New Testament in the 16th. Verse numbering has nothing to do with translation or accuracy.
So, let’s look at the beginning of Psalm 130.
Out of the depths I call to you, O Yahweh. — Ps 130:1 (LEB)
The word the writer uses for depths usually refers to the depths of the sea, which symbolized chaos and danger. This may be meant figuratively as an expression of his feelings of guilt, or it could be referring to literal imprisonment. Either way, he is at a spiritual low point, deep in his despair. Yet he has hope. He knows Yahweh’s redemptive nature and love for his creation, and cries out to him.
“O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. — Ps 130:2
He asks Yahweh to listen to his request and respond. He seems to link his current circumstances to punishment for his sins. He implies that Yahweh’s forgiveness of sins leads to worship of him by those who have been forgiven and that he, too, will worship Yahweh if he is rescued from the turmoil he is enduring.
If you, O Yah, should keep track of iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you is forgiveness, so that you may be feared.” — Ps 130:3-4
If God kept a list of our sins instead of forgiving us, the enormity of that list would be horrific. No one can withstand scrutiny into our behavior; we all fall short of God’s standard (as Paul reminds us in Rom 3:23).
Lavrentiy Beria, the Soviet Union’s Secret Police Chief under Josef Stalin, famously said, “Show me the man and I’ll find you the crime.” Look hard enough into any person’s life and you will find crimes, whether intentional or not.
In his book Three Felonies A Day, Harvey Silvergate describes how the average American commits, albeit unwittingly, upwards of three federal crimes each day that they could be prosecuted for.
So, the idea that we can just be “good persons” and God will accept that is foolish. We are all sinners who need God’s grace and forgiveness.
Yahweh’s forgiving nature contrasts distinctly with our own innate need to carry grudges. When Peter asks Jesus about forgiving others, the standard given by Jewish leaders was that one should forgive someone up to three times, expecting a deeper display of contrition from the person each time. After three times, however, one could assume the person wasn’t really sincere in his regret, so the obligation to forgive ended after the third time. Peter’s offer of seven times probably seemed very generous in his mind, so Jesus’ response likely surprised all his disciples.
Then Peter came up to him and said, “Lord, how many times will my brother sin against me and I will forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven! — Matt 18:21–22
The Greek word translated as “seventy times seven” can also mean “seventy-seven,” which is why various translations have one or the other. Jesus’ point, however, is not an arithmetic depiction of 490 or 77. The multiple sevens represent a very large number that also symbolizes completeness. Keep forgiving until the relationship is perfected, completed, made whole, etc.
Relationships are important to God—our relationship to him, and our relationships with each other. Reconciliation is complete only when both parties are reconciled. God doesn’t give up on us, and he expects us not to give up
on each other.
The psalmist understood Yahweh’s forgiving nature and his offer of redemption to those who turn back to him and away from their sins.
I await Yahweh; my soul awaits, and I wait for his word. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning. Yes, more than watchmen for the morning. — Ps 130:5-6
Anyone who has been in the military, or knows someone who has, understands the idea of “standing watch.” It’s a long boring time of waiting diligently for hopefully nothing to happen. The “end of watch” is looked forward to with great anticipation and its arrival is welcomed.
Military and first responders also use “end of watch” as a reference to retirement and death (the final peaceful rest). The psalmist likewise recognized the expectant urgency that night watchmen have for the sunrise, their “end of watch.”
O Israel, wait for Yahweh. For with Yahweh there is loyal love, and with him there is abundant redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all its iniquities. — Ps 130:7-8
The psalmist concludes with a call to Israel to remember Yahweh’s nature as their redeemer and to seek his forgiveness for their sins. Many of God’s promises in the Bible are for specific persons or groups at specific times in specific locations, and not for everyone everywhere for all time. But God’s character is consistent. The sort of behavior that God warns against will yield negative results consistently, and the sort of behavior that aligns with his character is blessed.
God’s response to contrite hearts, seeking his forgiveness through true repentance is always positive. The psalmist’s call to Israel to look to Yahweh for their redemption applies to us for our own as well.
The declaration made by Job has global and timeless impact:
For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. — Job 19:25 (ESV)
Alleluia!
Grace and Peace,
Fr. Austin