Psalm 130 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Psalm 130 Short Summary:

The writer of Psalm 130 was waiting for the Lord’s mercy to save him from the depths of despair. He called to God for help, knowing that God would show him grace even though he wasn’t a perfect man. He encouraged all Israel to put their trust in the Lord for their redemption.

Psalm 130 Summary

AUTHOR:

• The author of Psalm 130 is not named.

NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES:

• No Known New Testament References.

THEMES:

• Waiting for a merciful God to save His people.

DEFINITIONS:

• Song of Ascents (130:1) – The exact meaning of this term is debated, but many believe it was a label applied to psalms the people of Israel sang as they were travelling to Jerusalem for the holy days. Jerusalem was on the top of a hill, so the people would have physically ascended as they walked up to the Temple.

• Fear of God (130:4) - In modern vernacular, we use the word “fear” to talk about things that terrify us, often things that we perceive want to do us harm. However, when the Scriptures talk about the “fear of God” it carries a richer meaning. Yes, we should be terrified of what will happen to us if we live in rebellion to God, but the “fear of God” is also to affect those who love Him. In the Bible, fearing the Lord means showing God the respect due to Him for how great He is. It is holding Him in appropriate reverence as a God of love and as a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24).

OUTLINE:

• MY SOUL WAITS FOR THE LORD’S MERCY (130:1-8):

  • The psalmist called out for God’s mercy, he was waiting for it and depending on it.

  • He didn’t expect God to help him because of his righteous life, in fact he admitted that if God were to tally his sins, he wouldn’t have a chance of getting help.

  • His plea was prayed in the knowledge that God helps weak and sinful people.

  • The psalmist resolved himself to “wait for the Lord.” He didn’t put his hope in anything other than God.

  • He waited for the Lord with the anticipation of a night watchmen waiting for sunrise.

  • He encouraged his people to do the same, writing, “O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption” (130:7).

APPLICATION:

• If we think about fearing the Lord in the sense of respect, it makes sense that the author says we should fear God for His forgiveness and patience.

• The author wrote, “But with You [God] there is forgiveness, that You may be feared” (130:4).

• The fact that God is still willing to offer forgiveness after being wronged by so many people so many times is insane.

• The extent of His patience is beyond-human. If you compare a human’s capacity to be patient to God’s, it becomes immediately clear why God is worthy of the utmost respect.

• This virtue of patience, which we as humans can barely bring ourselves to exhibit towards others, is what God must extend to us to keep us in existence.

• Millions of sins are endured by God every day that He chooses to keep the earth spinning.

• If you’re alive today, take some time to appreciate God’s patients with you, His patients with the world, and know that His patients with us is not without reason.

• He will fulfill His promises to judge the world and punish the wicked, but only after His patients permits the lost to know Jesus.

• 2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.