Day 11: Psalm 130

Psalm 130 may be better known by its first two words in the Latin: De Profundis (from the Depths). This psalm has been an invocation prayed on behalf of the dead through the centuries. The psalm itself is in the category of a Lament in that it calls out to the Lord asking for forgiveness for the individual first, and then moves to the nation of Israel as whole.

Fr. Gregory Polan OSB states that Depths can refer to the deadly waters of chaos and destruction. In the case of the psalmist, it can refer to the destructive power of sin. This causes misery in the life of the psalmist from which he cannot free himself. It is interesting to note that when the word iniquities is used, it is understood to imply, according to Fr. Polan, “the mysterious inclination of the human heart to seek out paths that separate us from God and neighbor.” Thus, he calls out to the Lord who is the only one who can free him. For the Lord is a God of forgiveness. This is one of the attributes of God: loving kindness or mercy. Mercy is that form of love that meets misery, and misery is that state within which the psalmist is found! Thus, the psalmist calls out for this loving kindness of the Lord to meet and lift him from the “depths”.

Even though Psalm 130 is classified as a Lament, this psalm is also a psalm of hope as the psalmist has great trust in the Lord. The psalmist waits on the Lord with longing. This is the essence of a vigil. This is caught in the imagery of the watchmen waiting for the dawn. Having the duty of keeping a lookout for enemies who might attack in the night, the watchmen long for the dawn when it will be easier to see their movements. Moreover, Fr. Polan states that the watchmen could also represent the “priestly guardians of the temple precincts: after long night watches over the holy places, their exultant joy at the first signs of dawn signaled the coming day and the new beginning it meant.” Thus, the psalmist confidently waits on the Lord’s forgiveness!

The same hope that the psalmist has in the Lord is to also be invoked by Israel in her sinfulness. Israel is to turn to the Lord and invoke His mercy. “For with the Lord is plenteous redemption!” Here is the confidence of the psalmist; here is to be Israel’s confident hope; here is our hope too! This hope makes this psalm a perfect prayer not just for the dead, but for anyone who calls out and waits on the Lord with confidence.

For the pilgrim who has reach now the 11 ^th step and prays this psalm, it is a both a reflection of the physical journey up to Jerusalem, and it is that journey of the spiritual haul from despondency to confidence, from repentance to assurance of forgiveness, according to Fr. Richard Atherton. As the pilgrims approach the Temple, they appropriately sing and pray this psalm asking for God’s forgiveness, as one of the parts of the Temple liturgy was to ask for the Lord’s forgiveness!

Psalm Trivia: Psalm 130 has the distinction of being part of two collections of psalms. Not only is it the 11 ^th Psalm of Ascent, it is also the 6 ^th of the seven Penitential Psalms!

Pray Psalm 130 in your bible using the steps of Lectio Divina as shared in  praying with the scriptures on the St. Joseph Retreat Center website blog.

How does the word “depths” speak to the psalmist’s condition?

How does the image of the watchmen help us understand the hope of the psalmist?

Think of a time when you cried out to the Lord and received his love and mercy. How is this experience similar to that of the psalmist?

How does Jesus fulfill this psalm? How could this psalm help us as a prayer before confession?

What words or phrases stood out to you in this psalm?  Write them down in your journal, or memorize them so that they can give your courage on the journey to the Heavenly Jerusalem!