Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
The verse is a plea for the Lord to hear the speaker's voice and to be attentive to the voice of urgent supplications. Psalm 130, to which it belongs, is classified among the Penitential Psalms. It is part of the Songs of Ascent sung by pilgrims as they approached Jerusalem, belonging to worship that stirred the spiritual life of those chanting them. It belongs to the Psalms of Degrees chanted while ascending the fifteen steps leading to the inner court of the temple.
The cry out of the depths is the prayer of one cut off and helpless with no way of escape, facing death whether by going forward or remaining, finding no path around and no descent except destruction. It is overwhelmed with loneliness, desolation and despair, with night bringing no rest but fearful dreams of falling, moaning and weeping and crying in agony while God feels far away, praying as never before for help he does not know how can come. The depths are the night of tears and sighs that follows standing on spiritual heights with high resolves, hope and courage in the morning and then, when the will is crossed and the burden galls, going the old wrong way in weak despair as the same poor, stumbling mortal still. The cry from there is for Jesus' blood after spiritual failure.
Crying to God out of the depths can mean crying from gloom and darkness, blinded and stunned and uncertain what to do after fanaticism, afraid to claim God's promises and seek the Spirit's influence for fear of invoking a wrong spirit, and at times almost in despair. God hearkens and hears that cry. The answer to that cry brings renewed vows to God and resolve to come to Him even if perishing, gradual dispelling of terrible darkness, and springing up of light and hope with thankfulness and courage. This comes even while still buffeted by Satan and pressed by cares and trials, with God sending faithful messengers to reprove, instruct and encourage.
The plea is answered by the assurance that God forgives sin. God hears the voice of supplication and forgives sins gently, lovingly and completely. If God marked iniquities and refused to forgive, there would be fear and terror, but His forgiveness takes away all sting and terror and the fearful expectation of judgment. This forgiveness, rather than terror of punishment, inspires reverent fear, peace, adoration, gratitude and sincere, sweet, inexpressible love, which is the true fear of God with no terror in it, so that those who fear God are not afraid of Him. This perfect love casts out all terror, and to know this forgiving God is to know love, for God is love, and this love is the beginning of wisdom. People in distress can appeal to God in this way, and He hears and answers in His own time and way.
The verse is a plea for the Lord to hear the speaker's voice and to be attentive to the voice of urgent supplications. Psalm 130, to which it belongs, is classified among the Penitential Psalms. It is part of the Songs of Ascent sung by pilgrims as they approached Jerusalem, belonging to worship that stirred the spiritual life of those chanting them. It belongs to the Psalms of Degrees chanted while ascending the fifteen steps leading to the inner court of the temple.
The cry out of the depths is the prayer of one cut off and helpless with no way of escape, facing death whether by going forward or remaining, finding no path around and no descent except destruction. It is overwhelmed with loneliness, desolation and despair, with night bringing no rest but fearful dreams of falling, moaning and weeping and crying in agony while God feels far away, praying as never before for help he does not know how can come. The depths are the night of tears and sighs that follows standing on spiritual heights with high resolves, hope and courage in the morning and then, when the will is crossed and the burden galls, going the old wrong way in weak despair as the same poor, stumbling mortal still. The cry from there is for Jesus' blood after spiritual failure.
Crying to God out of the depths can mean crying from gloom and darkness, blinded and stunned and uncertain what to do after fanaticism, afraid to claim God's promises and seek the Spirit's influence for fear of invoking a wrong spirit, and at times almost in despair. God hearkens and hears that cry. The answer to that cry brings renewed vows to God and resolve to come to Him even if perishing, gradual dispelling of terrible darkness, and springing up of light and hope with thankfulness and courage. This comes even while still buffeted by Satan and pressed by cares and trials, with God sending faithful messengers to reprove, instruct and encourage.
The plea is answered by the assurance that God forgives sin. God hears the voice of supplication and forgives sins gently, lovingly and completely. If God marked iniquities and refused to forgive, there would be fear and terror, but His forgiveness takes away all sting and terror and the fearful expectation of judgment. This forgiveness, rather than terror of punishment, inspires reverent fear, peace, adoration, gratitude and sincere, sweet, inexpressible love, which is the true fear of God with no terror in it, so that those who fear God are not afraid of Him. This perfect love casts out all terror, and to know this forgiving God is to know love, for God is love, and this love is the beginning of wisdom. People in distress can appeal to God in this way, and He hears and answers in His own time and way.