Out of the depths I cry to You!
In your Mercy, hear my voice!
May you be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
If You should number the times we stray from You, O Beloved,
who could face You?
Yet You are ever-ready to forgive, that we might be healed.
I wait for You, my soul waits, for in you Love I would live;
My soul awaits the Beloved as one awaits the birth of a child, or
as one awaits the fulfillment of their destiny.
O sons and daughters of the Light, welcome the Heart of your Heart!
Then you will climb the Sacred Mountain of Truth;
You will know mercy and love in abundance.
Then will your transgressions be forgiven; and you will know the Oneness of All.
Reflection:
Forgiveness and healing are gifts from a loving God. Though for some of us, it seems that those gifts do not come soon enough. But the witness of the psalmist is that these gifts are available everyone, and even to one in the depths of despair where hope is all but gone. We are all beloved of God, just like the psalmist, without earning or somehow proving worthy or deserving, we are beloved. It is the assurance of our beloved-ness that gives hope. And it is hope that makes waiting bearable.
I wait for the Lord; my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning. (NRSVUE)
I wait for You, my soul waits, for in you Love I would live;
My soul awaits the Beloved as one awaits the birth of a child, or
as one awaits the fulfillment of their destiny. (Nan Merrill Psalms for Praying)
Keeping watch is more than just watching time tick by; it is looking expectantly for what we know is coming; it is taking hopeful steps towards the future we anticipate. The night watch keeps a light on and prepares for the day shift to take up the next watch, because morning is coming. Families, friends, and all of those who make up a community wait for the birth of a child by preparing for the new arrival, by checking in with the soon-to-be guardians to make sure they have what they need; sleep, food, diapers, and the cutest baby clothes. A person awaits the fulfillment of their destiny by taking steps towards the life they hope to live.
And if you don’t know what steps to take while you wait, may I suggest: that you show mercy in abundance; love intentionally and extravagantly; and fill the world with goodness and truth. Your hope will make the wait bearable for all of us.
Psalm reflections can be listened to on the Period Pastor Podcast series, Like One who Watches for the Morning. In the podcast I read both the NRSVUE and Nan C. Merrill’s Psalms for Praying in addition to the reflection you see here.
I began writing Psalm reflections during Lent of 2020 shortly after we decided to close the church building, work from home, and worship via zoom. It is a practice I have continued since. Many churches use the Revised Common Lectionary (RLC) that rotates scripture on a three-year cycle (A, B, and C). Starting in Advent 2019, Third Church decided to worship with the texts from Year D, which is still not circulated as are years A, B, and C. Year D was created with the goal of including scriptures that were left out or not used as frequently as others. While we were using Psalms in year D, most other lectionary followers were using Year A. In Advent of 2020 we rejoined those who use the lectionary in year B. Advent of 2021 year C. Advent of 2022 year A. Advent of 2023 year B.
I use the Vanderbilt Divinity Library’s resource for lectionary readings to make text selections.
Year B Psalms
Advent – Transfiguration: 1st Sunday in Advent Psalm 80, 2nd Sunday in Advent Psalm 85, 3rd Sunday in Advent Psalm 126, 4th Sunday in Advent Psalm 89, Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Psalm 96, Psalm 97, Psalm 98, 1st Sunday after Christmas, Psalm 148, New Year’s Day Psalm 8, Epiphany Psalm 72, 1st Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 29, 2nd Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 139, 3rd Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 62, 4th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 111, 5th Sunday after Epiphany Psalm 147, Transfiguration Sunday (Sunday before Lent) Psalm 50
Lent: Ash Wednesday Psalm 51, 1st Sunday in Lent Psalm 25, 2nd Sunday in Lent Psalm 22, 3rd Sunday in Lent Psalm 19, 4th Sunday in Lent Psalm 107, 5th Sunday in Lent Psalm 51 or Psalm 119:9-16, 6th Sunday in Lent (Palm or Passion Sunday) Psalm 118 or 31
Holy Week: Monday Psalm 36, Tuesday Psalm 71, Wednesday Psalm 70, Maundy Thursday Psalm 116, Good Friday Psalm 22, Holy Saturday Psalm 31
Easter: Easter Psalm 118 or 114, 2nd Sunday of Easter Psalm 133, 3rd Sunday of Easter Psalm 4, 4th Sunday of Easter Psalm 23, 5th Sunday of Easter Psalm 22, 6th Sunday of Easter Psalm 98, Ascension Psalm 47 or Psalm 93, 7th Sunday of Easter Psalm 1, Day of Pentecost Psalm 104
Season After Pentecost (Ordinary Time): 1st Sunday after Pentecost (Trinity Sunday) Psalm 29, 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 139 or Psalm 81, 3rd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 138 or Psalm 130, 4th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 20 or Psalm 92, 5th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 9 or Psalm 133 or Psalm 107, 6th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 130 or Psalm 30, 7th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 48 or Psalm 123, 8th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 24 or Psalm 85, 9th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 89 or Psalm 23, 10th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 14 or Psalm 145, 11th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 51 or Psalm 78, 12th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 130 or Psalm 34, 13th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 111 or Psalm 34, 14th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 84 or Psalm 34, 15th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 45 or Psalm 15, 16th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 125 or Psalm 146, 17th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 19 or Psalm 116, 18th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 1 or Psalm 54, 19th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 124 or Psalm 19, 20th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 26 or Psalm 8, 21st Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 22 or Psalm 90, 22nd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 104 or Psalm 91, 23rd Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 34 or Psalm 126, 24th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 146 or 119, 25th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 127 or Psalm 146, 26th Sunday after Pentecost Psalm 16, 27th Sunday after Pentecost (Christ the King) Psalm 132 or Psalm 93.
Sources and notes:
Psalm 130 is a “succinct but powerful expression of the theme that is the heart of Scripture: the human predicament and its dependence on divine grace.” Mays p. 405
“In the eleventh of the Song of the Ascents an individual psalm singer calls on God for deliverance from what seems to be some threatening situation in life.” W p. 209
Verse 6 watching for the morning: “Sentinels often stood guard on city walls, as did soldiers in camps during times of war, watching in the darkness for danger and waiting expectantly for the safety of daylight, when the possibility of attack from enemies was lessened.” W p. 212
“This psalm invites the faithful who embrace God’s “steadfast love” to help turn the tide of our world’s and our own selfish iniquity–our self-seeking turning and twisting.” W p. 213
“The basic address of verses 1-2 is standard for a complaint, an address to Yahweh in trouble. yet the placement of the voice in the depths adds to the power of prayer. In fact, the prayer is an act of inordinate boldness. In one sweeping rhetorical move it proposes to make a link between the ruler of reality enthroned and the most extreme, remote circumstance of human need (cf. Isa. 57:15; Debt. 10:14). The psalm thereby strikes one of the most poignant evangelical notes in all the Psalter. From where should the ruler of reality be addressed? One might think it should be from a posture of obedience, or at least from a situation of prosperity and success, indicating conformity to the blessed order of creation. One ought to address the king suitably dressed, properly positioned, with a discipline, well-modulated voice.” Brueggemann The Message of the Psalms p. 104
“But this psalm is the miserable cry of a nobody from nowhere. The cry penetrates the veil of heaven! It is heard and received.” Brueggemann The Message of the Psalms p. 104
“One might imagine that forgiveness serves to open things up to joy and to freedom, that forgiveness is the key intent of the transaction, the pivot on which everything in the future depends. But it is not. Forgiveness is instrumental to the real purpose: “That thou mayest be feared.” One might have expected things in reverse sequence. One might have though fearing Yahweh would be a ground for forgiveness. But this psalm scandalizes all our calculating notions of religion. The move comes the other way; the gift goes before the obedience. The result is that the heard beggar fears the king. The psalm surely suggests that as a the relationship is transformed, so the depths are transformed as well.” Brueggemann The Message of the Psalms p. 105
“The terms wait and hope are rough synonyms. The waiting-hoping is like a watchman at night, waiting early and expectantly for the relief that comes with daybreak. Fear of Yahweh means to have confidence that things as they are (in depth), are not as they will be. Life will be transformed. Forgiveness leads to liberation from life as it is present organized.” Brueggemann The Message of the Psalms p. 106
“The last two verse of the psalm (vv. 7-8) are perhaps tracked on at a later time, around the catchword hope. The function of these verses is to generalize the new situation from a speaker in the depth to the whole community of Israel. the rescue and forgiveness of one “feared” permit the whole community to have new life. Now, because of that bold cry from the Pit, all Israel waits for reception, for liberation from sin and all that blocks new life. The single speaker enacts how it is for all Israel. That single speaker might be any one in the depth who risks enough to cry. The news is that the cry is answered by forgiveness, which sets a new life in motion.” Brueggemann The Message of the Psalms p. 106
Alter Alter, Robert. 2007. The Book of Psalms: A Translation with Commentary New York: W. W. Norton & Company
WBC Allen, Leslie C. 1983. Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 101-150. Vol. 21. Waco, TX: Word Books, Publisher.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. 1974. Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible. 8th ed. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Press.
Bourgeault, C. (2006). Chanting the psalms: A practical guide Audio Book. New Seeds.
Brueggemann, Walter. 2007. Praying the Psalms: Engaging Scripture and the Life of the Spirit. 2nd ed. Eugene, OR: Cascade.
Brueggemann Brueggemann, Walter. 2014. From Whom No Secrets Are Hid: Introducing the Psalms. Edited by Brent A. Strawn. 1st ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.
Brueggemann, Walter. Davis Hanskins, Editor. 2022. Our Hearts Wait: Worshiping Through Praise and Lament in the Psalms Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville KY.
Brueggemann, Walter. (2002). Spirituality of the psalms. Augsburg Pub. House.
Brueggemann, Walter. (1984). The Message of the Psalms: A Theological Commentary. Minneapolis: Augsburg.
Chilson, Richard, ed. You Shall Not Want: A Spiritual Journey Based on the Psalms. Ave Maria Press, 2009.
Chittister Chittister, Joan. (2011). Songs of the heart: reflections on the psalms. John Garratt Publishing.
Cudjoe-Wilkes, G., Wilkes, A. J., & Moss, O. (2022). Psalms for black lives: Reflections for the work of Liberation. Upper Room Books.
WBC Craigie, Peter C. 1983. Psalms 1-50–Word Biblical Commentary. Vol. 19. Waco, TX: Word Books.
Creach Creach, Jerome Frederick Davis. 1998. Psalms: Interpretation Bible Studies. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.
DAFLER, J. (2021). PSOBRIETY: A journey of recovery through the psalms. Louisville, KY: WESTMINSTER JOHN KNOX.
W de Claisse-Walford, Nancy L. WISDOM COMMENTARY: Psalms Bks. 4-5. Edited by Barbara E. Reid. Vol. 22. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2020.
Green, Barbara. 1997. Like a Tree Planted: An Exploration of Psalms and Parables Through Metaphor. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.
W Hopkins, Denise Dombkowski. WISDOM COMMENTARY: Psalms Bks. 2-3. Edited by Barbara E. Reid. Vol. 21. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2016.
NIB Keck, Leander E. 2015. The New Interpreters Bible Commentary. Vol. 3. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
Lewis, C. S. (2017). Reflections on the Psalms. Harper One, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers.
Mays Mays, James Luther. 1994. Psalms. Louisville, KY: John Knox Press.
McCann McCann, J. C. (1993). A theological introduction to the book of Psalms: The Psalms as Torah. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
McCann, J. C., & Howell, J. C. 2001. Preaching the Psalms. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
Merrill, N. C. (2020). Psalms for praying an invitation to wholeness (10th Anniversary Edition ed.). London, England: Bloomsbury Publishing.
Miller Miller, Patrick D. 1986. Interpreting the Psalms. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press.
Morgan, Michael. 2010. The Psalter for Christian Worship Revised Edition. Westminster John Knox Press.
Schlimm Schlimm, Matthew Richard. 2018. 70 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know. Nashville, TN: Abington Press.
Spong Spong, M. (Ed.). (2020). The words of her mouth: Psalms for the struggle. Cleveland, OH: The Pilgrim Press.
WBC Tate, Marvin E. 1990. Word Biblical Commentary: Psalms 51-100. Edited by David Allan. Hubbard and Glenn W. Barker. Vol. 20. Waco, TX: Word.
Weems, Ann. 1995. Psalm of Lament. Westminster John Knox Pres
OTL Weiser, Artur. 1998. Old Testament Library: Psalms. Translated by Herbert Hartwell. 3rd ed. New York, NY: Manchester University Press.
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