OUT OF THE DEPTHS, INDEED!

A Reflection on Psalm 130 for Thursday, March 19, 2026 by Rev. Elizabeth Jones

Lectionary reading for 03/19/2026:

Psalm 130

READ 

Psalm 130 New Revised Standard Version

 A Song of Ascents.

¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
²     Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
    to the voice of my supplications!

³ If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
    Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But there is forgiveness with you,
    so that you may be revered.

⁵ I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
    and in his word I hope;
⁶ my soul waits for the Lord
    more than those who watch for the morning,
    more than those who watch for the morning.

⁷ O Israel, hope in the Lord!
    For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
    and with him is great power to redeem.
⁸ It is he who will redeem Israel
    from all its iniquities.

REFLECT

There’s nothing like an emergency room or a critical care unit in a hospital to give a person a kind of perspective, a window into suffering and pain—on all different levels.

            In the depths. Overwhelmed by the chaotic waters. It’s real. It hits home. This is where some people are regularly at, more often than any of us would like to admit.

            When we read Psalm 130, we aren’t sure whether it’s the depths of sorrow or grief, or the depths of emotional frustration or psychological pain, or a combination of all of the above. This psalm is a window onto the psalmist’s soul, which is about to split in two.

            Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever cried to God from the depths of suffering and pain? I know I have, and it is painful. Horrible. I don’t care to remember it, most of the time, so I pack it away and submerge what unpleasant memories I have in some inner part of my mind.

            Sometimes, life stinks. Some might ask, how can it get worse?

The psalmist tells us how, in verse three. Just when we thought life was really rotten, sin can take center stage and make matters even worse. Sometimes, I can let the sins I commit every day really get under my skin. It isn’t always the huge sins; it can be the little ones, too. The white lies, losing my temper, ignoring people. These little slips of thought, word and deed. Oh, and the bigger sins, too.

What would happen if God were to keep a balance sheet, with all of the good, pleasing deeds I’ve done in one column, and all the bad, evil, nasty things I’m guilty of in the other? I’d imagine I would keep some angelic bookkeeper pretty busy, keeping track of all the petty little bad things I do each and every day, as well as the occasional good things.

            Thank God that God does not keep balance sheets, and weigh the good versus the bad in my life. Thank God I am forgiven! Did you hear that declaration? “But there is forgiveness with You, so that You may be revered.” God loves this psalm writer so much that God is willing to forgive.

            Then, there is a shift. The psalm writer changes from up close and personal to the corporate body. It’s like the psalmist says, “Hey, Israel!! If God can forgive me of my iniquities, surely God can forgive all y’all, too!” See, the LORD does have steadfast love. It isn’t just wishful thinking. God is ready to redeem all God’s people from all their iniquities, to embrace them in God’s everlasting arms.

            This is good news for us, today. Not only will God forgive our sins and iniquities, but God will be there to help us through the rough places, the difficult things, the frustrating circumstances, the painful heartaches. God has promised to be there for us, indeed.

            What a promise. What assurance. What a God. Amen!

RESPOND 

Just as God does not keep heavenly balance sheets on me or on you, so we do not need to keep track of good deeds versus bad deeds done to us. How freeing, and how wonderful! Who can you help through difficult times? Who needs a hand to travel through rough places today? Please, be that helping hand. And, if you can be kind and merciful to others, do that, too! 

REST 

Dear Lord, sometimes life is hard. Sometmes, life downright stinks. But Lord, You are right there in the middle of things! You come through, and can walk beside us, sit right next to us, even, going through the darkest valleys, You are right by our side.Thank You, God, for never leaving us nor forsaking us. What a God You are, indeed! I know it hardly seems adequate in the least, but – thanks. Thanks so much. Amen.

About the Author 

The Rev. Elizabeth Jones is a full-time hospice chaplain in Chicago, is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (IAODAPCA), and is working on a DMin in spiritual direction. Elizabeth has a loving husband who is a senior editor, four curious and strong-minded adult children and two adorable grandchildren.