Psalms 130
PATPSALM CXX VIII. A Song of Degrees. It is not unlikely, that this Psalm was composed by the same author that made the former; to excito men to be truly religious, as tho only way to obtain the blessings there mentioned of the Lord. Which, as he there shews we must have from his free gift, and not think to acquire merely by our own industry: so here he shews the Lord is wont to bestow on those who, fearing to offend him, sincerely keep his commandments. Some think this was a form prescribed to be used at the blessing of their marriages; when they wished the newmamed couple all manner of happiness; especially a long life in peaceable times, (ver. 5, G.) Of a Song of Degrees, see Psal. cxx. A Song of Degrees. (See cxx.) Some think David made this prayer, after he had plunged himself into a very deep guilt, by his sin with Bath-shcba. I rather think, when he was persecuted by Saul, and reduced to so iow a. condition, that his heart began to sink within him. For the floods of ungodly men (as he speaks, Psal. xviii. 4.) made him afraid, that he should one day perish in them, (1 Sam. xxix. l.)and he complains elsewhere, that he sunk in the mire, where there was no standing, &c. (Psal. lxix. 2. 14, 15.) In this condition he implores the Divine mercy with gTeat earnestness: and beseeches him to pardon his sins, and the sins of all the people; which made them deserve that ill government under Saul and his flatterers. It is the last but one of the seven penitential Psalms..
Psalms 130:1
JOLESSED is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.) Whosoever thou art that desirest to be happy, be sure to add unto the devout worship of the Lord the practice of justice and charity, and all other virtues: and thou shalt never miss of it. LP UT of the depths have I cried unto thee, OLord.] In the greatest straits, when I can see no bottom, no end of my troubles, but 1 still sink lower and lower into them; I never despair of thy mercy, O Lord; but cry unto thee most earnestly to deliver me.
Psalms 130:2
For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy slialt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. For then he will prosper thy honest labours; and give thee a heart also to enjoy the fruit of them: yea, this will seem no small part of thy happiness, that thou art able to live of thyself, and riot be beholden unto others. Lord, hear my voice; let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.] Vouchsafe, good Lord, the governor of all things, to grant my petition: do not reject it, I humbly beseech thee; but give me a favourable answer when I deprecate thy displeasure.
Psalms 130:3
Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive-plants round about thy table. He will bless thee also in thy wife; and make her as fruitful as the vine, which spreads itself, laden with full clusters, over all the sides of thy house: and in thy hopeful children too, who shall grow up and flourish liko the young olive-plants, that are set in thy arbour, round about thy table. - * If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?] I do not plead any merits of mine, but rather accuse myself before thee; knowing that if I were the most innocent person in the world, yet if thou, Lord, shouldest strictly examine my life, and proceed against me, according to my deserts, (Lord, what would become of me?) I should certainly be condemned.
Psalms 130:4
Behold, that thits shall the man be blessed, tltat feareth the Lord. Observe it, thatthis shall be the comfortable portion of the man that religiously serveth the Lord; who alone can bless our labours, and continue the product of them in our families. But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.] But thou most graciously invitest us unto thy service, by thy readiness to pardon all those that are truly penitent; without the hope of which, we could not so much as think of becoming religious.
Psalms 130:5
The Lord shall bless thee out ofZion; and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Address thyself unto him in his holy place; and the Lord shall bestow on thee whatsoever blessings thou askest of* him: yea, mayest thou be so happy as to see Jerusalem, the seat of justice and religion, in a flourishing condition all thy life long. i Ver. G. Yea, thou shalt see thy children s children, and peace upon Israel] And long mayest thou live, to such a good old age, as to see thy children’s children; and the whole nation, all the time, in a prosperous tranquillity. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.] This encourages me to wait and expecj; ■when the Lord will deliver me; my soul is earnestly bent to expect this happy time, which I believe will come; because I have his promise for it, on which I depend.
Psalms 130:6
My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning; I say, more than they that watch for the morning. I direct my thoughts to the Lord alone for safety and relief; which I implore incessantly with my early prayers: for they that watch in the temple for the break of day; I say, the priests that watch in the temple for the break of day, are not more forward than I to offer up their morning sacrifice to the Lord…
Psalms 130:7
Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. In whom let all his people place their trust and confidence: for the Lord is very ready to do good; and hath more ways than we can imagine to rescue those that hope in him out of the sorest distresses.
Psalms 130:8
And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. And he will at last free them from all those troubles; which he hath inflicted on them as a punishment for their iniquities.