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UT of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. 2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. 3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. 7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. 8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. (Psalm 130)
This is more of a paraphrase of the 130th Psalm than it is a classical hymn. In the early churches of the Reformation, many reformed churches sang only psalms or paraphrases thereof set to music. This is one of Martin Luther’s most beloved selections from the Psaltery. There are two terms that are central to the whole – ‘Woe,’ and ‘Lamentations.’ Woe is synonymous to grief, and lamentations is merely the open expression of that grief. King David had ample reason to express grief in the wilderness, and so did Martin Luther whose life hung in the balance during the early years of the continental Reformation. This psalm/hymn was written in 1524 as a Reformation Hymn expressing salvation by grace alone and none by personal merit. Though not popularly known today, it is just as powerful and inspiring as another of his hymns, A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD – published in 1529.
From depths of woe
From depths of woe I raise to thee
the voice of lamentation;
Lord, turn a gracious ear to me
and hear my supplication:
if thou iniquities dost mark,
our secret sins and misdeeds dark,
O who shall stand before thee?
To wash away the crimson stain,
grace, grace alone, availeth;
our works, alas! are all in vain;
in much the best life faileth:
no man can glory in thy sight,
all must alike confess thy might,
and live alone by mercy.
Therefore my trust is in the Lord,
and not in mine own merit;
on him my soul shall rest, his Word
upholds my fainting spirit:
his promised mercy is my fort,
my comfort, and my sweet support;
I wait for it with patience.
What though I wait the live-long night,
and 'til the dawn appeareth,
my heart still trusteth in his might;
it doubteth not nor feareth:
do thus, O ye of Israel's seed,
ye of the Spirit born indeed;
and wait 'til God appeareth.
Though great our sins and sore our woes,
his grace much more aboundeth;
his helping love no limit knows,
our utmost need it soundeth.
Our Shepherd good and true is he,
who will at last his Israel free
from all their sin and sorrow.
1 From depths of woe I raise to thee the voice of lamentation; Lord, turn a gracious ear to me and hear my supplication: if thou iniquities dost mark, our secret sins and misdeeds dark, O who shall stand before thee? There is no ocean-sea that is deeper than the uttermost depths of despair that we are often driven by the woes and danger of the Christian life. Such woes often arise from our own weakness, but most often from the bitter animosity of the world toward the Lord and Savior whom we worship. It is clear that there is no righteousness in us apart from that granted by the Lord God. If we are denied the effulgent grace of God, how shall we have hope in this life, or in the life to come? We would melt before the Throne on Judgment Day.
2 To wash away the crimson stain, grace, grace alone, availeth; our works, alas! are all in vain; in much the best life faileth: no man can glory in thy sight, all must alike confess thy might, and live alone by mercy. It was for only one sin that Adam fell from grace. How many would justify our own falling therefrom? The seemingly most righteous man or woman that ever lived would not gain the prize apart from the grace of God. It is not our frail works of righteousness (which are considered filthy rags before God) that will count when the curtain falls, but God’s grace. If we have any righteous works at all, they would not be ours to claim, but those of Christ working in and through us. The first cry of the lepers was not to be healed, but for the Lord Jesus to have mercy on them. When we have God’s mercy, we have all else needful for our souls.
3 Therefore my trust is in the Lord, and not in mine own merit; on him my soul shall rest, his Word upholds my fainting spirit: his promised mercy is my fort, my comfort, and my sweet support; I wait for it with patience. The biblical principle of ‘justification by faith’ was a central tenet of the great Reformation. It represented a return to biblical principles of grace which had been hidden by the dust of the traditions of men since the early church fathers had proclaimed it. If we placed all our good works, done before our approach to the Throne of grace, on the scales, they would be completely outweighed by even one sin. We are saved – not BY good works – but by grace UNTO good works. Our lives must reflect that same image of our Savior in whose image we were conceived at Eden. We have a place of secret security in Christ – our Rock, our Fortress, our Haven of Rest. Why wallow in the slime-pits of sin when such a great blessing has been offered. God knew His chosen before the foundation of the world, and His call goes forth to draw them to His Throne of Mercy and Grace.
That is the Mercy Seat which rest above the Law in the Ark. That Mercy Seat is Christ!
4 What though I wait the live-long night, and 'til the dawn appeareth, my heart still trusteth in his might; it doubteth not nor feareth: do thus, O ye of Israel's seed, ye of the Spirit born indeed; and wait 'til God appeareth.God giveth His elect songs in the night to obscure the doubts and worries of the inhospitable world. Though the darkness of night obscures the great orb of light that has marked our day, we may rest assured of the coming dawn when the brilliance of the Sun of Righteousness (our Day Star, 2 Peter 1:19) shall arise with healing in His wings. (Malachi 4:2) By the way, if you have believed in that promise of a Redeemer made to Abraham, then are you Abraham’s child indeed and part of the Holy Realm of Israel.
5 Though great our sins and sore our woes, his grace much more aboundeth; his helping love no limit knows, our utmost need it soundeth. Our Shepherd good and true is he, who will at last his Israel free from all their sin and sorrow. Are our sins too egregious for the Lord to forgive? Was King David’s sin of adultery and murder forgiven? Was Saul of Tarsus (Paul) forgiven for the murder of Stephen and others of the faith? Was Peter forgiven for his thrice denial of His Lord and Savior? Yes, they were forgiven. God’s judgment is not based on our righteousness, or even unrighteousness, but by the Temple of our Hearts made clean and inhabitable for the Holy Spirit of God at the Father’s calling. God is full of Love and Love covers all sin – “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)and “ . . . . love covereth all sins.” (Proverbs 10:12) These promises you may put in your pipe and smoke.
Martin Luther was a far greater man of God than I can ever hope to be, but God accepts even my frailty – and yours – when our hearts have responded to His call of Grace. It is Christ in our hearts that is the Lamp to our feet and a Light to our path. (see Psalm 119:105)
