The Transformational Cry

Psalm 130

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;

2 O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.

6 My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.

8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.


This is a beautiful psalm written by one who cried out to God, with a heart of humility, longing to be heard by the Most High.

The writer states that he cries out to God from the "depths". It is a place (in his heart and situation) that is like deep turbulent waters threatening to engulf and overwhelm with its fury. All of us find ourselves in situations like this at one time or another. While in the depths we are forced to cry out to God with all our might because we realize that He is the only one who can rescue us from all our troubles.

This is the most vulnerable place we can be in because we are either going to drown or be rescued. Everything is on the line. But, just like the psalmist, we come to completely depend upon God during this very threatening hour. Our cry to Him is birthed out of desperation, however, it is then transformed into one of faith and devotion. As we stand on His Word in faith, we will not drown. Our Lord uses the depths to lead us from despair to faith and trust in Him. He hears our cry and delivers us because He is faithful. He is a God of His Word!

When we see God move on our behalf we also see His nature – His holiness and the purity of His love, grace and mercy. How can this not move us? We come face to face with a totally righteous God. This causes us to realize our own unrighteousness which then humbles us and produces a holy fear for Him. Because He is a God who completely forgives and unconditionally loves us, the right response is to fall down in worship of Him with overwhelming love and gratitude in our hearts.

As love takes its rightful place in our hearts, we long for God's presence and eagerly await His embrace. More than watchmen who wait all night, we watch for our God. The watchmen waits because he is duty-bound, but we wait because we are love-bound. How enriched we become when such love drives us. In His presence is where we come to know the depth of His character and heart. It is here that we experience the fullness of His love and mercy which restores and fortifies our souls. He beckons us to come, as a lover beckons the one he loves.

Experiencing God in this way causes us to place all of our affections, trust and hope in Him. With the Lord is unfailing love and complete redemption. No one loves or redeems like our God. He alone is the one who saves and delivers us from the raging deep.