What a treasure we have in the book of Psalms! These eloquent prayers give voice to every aspect of human emotion — joy, praise, devotion, anger, sorrow, hope. During my years as a hospital chaplain, I frequently called upon the psalms for comfort and support. In times of suffering, fear, and loss, the psalms of lament led us from sorrow into hope. Psalm 130, assigned in the lectionary for this coming Sunday, is one of my favorites.
Psalm 130 (De profundis)
- Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice; *
let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication. - If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss, *
O Lord, who could stand? - For there is forgiveness with you; *
therefore you shall be feared. - I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; *
in his word is my hope. - My soul waits for the Lord,
more than watchmen for the morning, *
more than watchmen for the morning. - O Israel, wait for the Lord, *
for with the Lord there is mercy; - With him there is plenteous redemption, *
and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.
Does this resonate with you? At this strange, uncomfortable time I somehow feel “in the depths.” We have to do everything differently, isolating ourselves, removed from so much of our comfort zone. If we are to connect, we have to communicate from a distance and grapple with unfamiliar technologies. Fear is all around us. It’s a dark, dreary time.
I really miss the personal interaction that gives my life so much meaning — most of all, the joy of being present with the Nativity family as we gather for worship and fellowship. Facebook and other social media help us stay in touch; but none of these can match the physical presence of being with one another, in communion as the Body of Christ.
As we pray the psalms of lament we join in the honest complaints, tears, and anguish that they express so eloquently and know that the feeling is universal. I am not alone; it’s not just about me. Psalm 130, beginning with a desperate cry from the depths, then turns to hope and trust. “My soul waits for the Lord; in his word is my hope. With him is plenteous redemption. . . .” There is hope. This challenging time will pass. We will once more be able to gather together and celebrate — in God’s time.
My initial connection with Psalm 130 was through music. It was a favorite psalm of Martin Luther, which he turned into a hymn text and tune. In German, the title is Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir; the English translation, with Luther’s tune, is found in our Hymnal 1982, # 151: “From deepest woe I cry to thee; Lord, hear me, I implore thee.” It has inspired many composers, especially J. S. Bach and Felix Mendelssohn, to write organ and choral settings of Luther’s text and melody.
I invite you to join me, first to lament and then to rejoice in that hope, and listen to Mendelssohn’s choral setting of Psalm 130:
May God bless us all during this Lenten fast. My prayers are with you always.