Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryPsalms 130

Crying Out to God from the DepthsThis psalm teaches us how to seek God when we are in great trouble. Even the most faithful people can feel overwhelmed, sad, or confused. But no matter how deep our problems seem, we can always call out to God. He hears prayers from any situation, just as He heard Jeremiah in the dungeon, Daniel in the lions’ den, and Jonah in the belly of the fish. Prayer is the way to stop ourselves from sinking lower and to find hope again (Psalm 40:1-2 ).v. 1: The writer says, Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord

v. 2: He continues, Lord, hear my voice: let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications . We should pray with faith, believing that God will listen. Even when we are in pain or trouble, we can trust that God will give us peace and answer us.

v. 3: The psalmist humbles himself, saying, If you, Lord

v. 4: But the psalmist finds hope in God’s mercy: But there is forgiveness with you, that you may be feared . God is willing to forgive those who repent. Because of Jesus, who is our sacrifice and advocate, we can receive forgiveness. Knowing this should not make us careless but lead us to respect and worship God. His mercy invites us to repent and trust Him again (Joel 2:13; Matthew 3:2 ). When we fear God’s goodness, we can truly enjoy His forgiveness.

Encouragement to Trust in and Depend upon GodThis section encourages us to trust God and wait for His help, even when answers seem slow in coming. The psalmist shows us how to depend on God’s promises and urges everyone who belongs to God to do the same. God’s mercy and power to save are reasons for hope, and His redemption is more than enough for all who trust in Him.v. 5: The psalmist says, I wait for the Lord

v. 6: He continues, My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning . Just as guards or people caring for the sick eagerly wait for the first light of day, the psalmist longs for God’s help even more. He is sure that God’s mercy will come, just as surely as the morning always comes.

v. 7: The psalmist encourages everyone who belongs to God: Let Israel hope in the Lord

v. 8: Finally, he says, He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities (Psalm 130:8 ). God’s redemption is complete and powerful. Through Jesus, God saves His people from all their sins (Matthew 1:21; Titus 2:14 ). This salvation is enough for everyone who trusts in Him, and it brings freedom from every kind of evil.