Useful Bible Studies > Songs of Ascent Commentary

Psalm 130

· To get the maximum benefit from this study, please open your Bible and read Psalm 130 first.

The poet who wrote Psalm 130 described himself as someone in a deep place. The writer of Psalm 69 used that same word in the original language too; in fact, he used it twice. (See Psalm 69:2 and Psalm 69:14.) He meant a deep place where a man may drown.

Probably, the author of Psalm 130 intended his description as a word picture. His troubles were so terrible that he felt like someone in a deep hole. He was desperate, and he needed God to rescue him. Otherwise, there was no hope for him.

Some people in the Bible really were in such deep holes. See Genesis 37:24 and Jeremiah 38:6. People had dug those holes in order to store water. And sometimes, when there was not much water in the hole, they put a prisoner there. The prisoner could only stand or sit in the deep mud at the bottom of the hole. The hole was so deep that the prisoner could not climb out. And if there was rain, the hole would fill with water. Then the prisoner would certainly drown if nobody rescued him. Psalm 40:2 also seems to describe this kind of hole.

In Psalm 130:1, the poet mentions his terrible situation. He knows that he cannot save himself. Only God can save him now! So the poet cries out to God. It is a desperate prayer. The poet needs God to show his kindness. Nobody else can help him.

Next part: Prisoners because of our own wrong deeds

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