Psalm 130:8

EXPOSITION

Verse 8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Our iniquities are our worst dangers: if saved from these, we are saved altogether; but there is no salvation from them except by redemption. What a blessing that this is here promised in terms which remove it out of the region of question: the Lord shall certainly redeem his believing people from all their sins. Well may the redemption be plenteous since it concerns all Israel and all iniquities! Truly, our Psalm has ascended to a great height in this verse: this is no cry out of the depths, but a chorale in the heights. Redemption is the top of covenant blessings. When it shall be experienced by all Israel, the latter day glory shall have come, and the Lord's people shall say, "Now, Lord, what wait we for?" Is not this a clear prophecy of the coming of our Lord Jesus the first time? and may we not now regard it as the promise of his second and more glorious coming for the redemption of the body? For this our soul doth wait: yea, our heart and our flesh cry out for it with joyful expectation.

EXPLANATORY NOTES AND QUAINT SAYINGS

Verse 8. He will redeem. "HE" emphatic, He alone, for none other can. --J. J. Stewart Perowne.

Verse 8. From his iniquities. Not only from the punishment (as Ewald and Hupfeld). The redemption includes the forgiveness of sins, the breaking of the power and dominion of sin, and the setting free from all the consequences of sin. --J. J. Stewart Perowne.

Verse 8. Iniquities. Iniquities of eye -- has conscience no voice there? Is no iniquity ever practised by your eye? Let conscience speak. Iniquity of ear -- is there no iniquity that enters into your heart through the ear? You cannot listen to a conversation in the street without iniquity entering into your heart through what Bunyan calls "Ear gate." Iniquity of lip -- do you always keep your tongue as with a bridle? Do your lips never drop anything unbecoming the gospel? Is there no carnal conversation, no angry word at home, no expression that you would not like the saints of God to hear? What! your lips always kept so strictly that there is never a single expression dropped from them which you would be ashamed to utter before an assembly of God's people? Iniquity of thought -- if your eyes, ears, and lips are clean, is there no iniquity of thought? What! in that workshop within, no iniquitous suggestions, no evil workings? Oh, how ignorant must we be of ourselves, if we feel that we have no iniquity of thought! Iniquity of imagination -- does not fancy sometimes bring before you scenes of sensuality in which your carnal nature is vile enough to revel? Iniquity of memory -- does not memory sometimes bring back sins you formerly committed, and your evil nature is perhaps base enough to desire they had been greater Iniquity of feeling -- no enmity against God's people ever working? no pride of heart? no covetousness? no hypocrisy? no self righteousness? no sensuality? no base thought that you cannot disclose even to your bosom friend? But here is the blessed promise -- a promise only suited to Israel: for all but Israel lose sight of their iniquities, and justify themselves in self righteousness. None but Israel feel and confess their iniquities, and therefore to Israel is the promise of redemption limited: "He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities." What! all? Yes, Not one left? No, not a trace, not a shade, not the shadow of a shade; all buried, all gone, all swallowed up, all blotted out, all freely pardoned, all cast behind God's back. --Joseph C. Philpot, 1802-1869.

Verse 8. What a graceful and appropriate conclusion of this comprehensive and instructive Psalm! Like the sun, it dawns veiled in cloud, it sets bathed in splendour; it opens with soul depth, it closes with soul height. Redemption from all iniquity! It baffles the most descriptive language, and distances the highest measurement. The most vivid imagination faints in conceiving it, the most glowing image fails in portraying it, and faith droops her wing in the bold attempt to scale its summit. "He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities." The verse is a word painting of man restored, and of Paradise regained. --Octavius Winslow.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 8.

1. The Redemption: "From all iniquities."
2. The Redeemer: "The Lord." See Titus 2:14 .
3. The Redeemed: "Israel." --W. H. J. P.

WORKS WRITTEN ABOUT THE HUNDRED AND THIRTIETH PSALM. IN SPURGEON'S DAY

A Treatise concerning the fruitful Sayings of David, The King and Prophet, in The Seven Penitential Psalms ... By the Right Reverend Father in God Ions Fisher, DD. and Bp. of Rochester. Printed in the Year 1714. This is a reprint in 12mo. of the Black Letter 4to. described on page 114 of Vol. 2. of "The Treasury of David." The work is more curious than useful.]

"An Exposition upon some select Psalms of David ... Written by that faithful servant of God M. Robert Rollok ... And translated out of Latine into English by Charles Lumisden ... Edinborgh ... 1600", 8vo. contains a short exposition on Psalm 130.

In "Select Works of Robert Rollock", edited for the Wodrow Society by William M. Gunn, Esq., Vol. 1 pp. 451-481, there are two expository Sermons on Psalm 130.

A Exposition On The Hundred And Thirtieth Psalm. Gathered out of some of the Ancient Fathers and later writers by Alexander Roberts. Bachelor of Divinity and Preacher of the Word of God at Kings Lind in Norfolk. London ... 1610. 4to.

David's Tears. By Sir John Hayward, Knight, Doctor of Lawe. London. Printed by John Bell, 1623. 4to. On Psalms 6, 32, and 130.

The Saints' Comforts. Being the substance of diverse Sermons. Preached on Psalm 130, the beginning Psalms 130:1-5 ... By a Reverend Divine now with God. Richard Sibbes. London ... 1638. 18mo. Reprinted in Vol. 6 of Sibbes' Works, Nichol's edition, 1863.

A Godly and Fruitful Exposition on the 130 Psalme, the sixth of the Penitentials, in A Sacred Septenarie or, A Godly And Fruitful Exposition On The Seven Psalms Of Repentance ... By Mr. Archibald Symson, late Pastor of the church at Dalkeeth in Scotland. London ... 1638. 4to.

In "Meditations And Disquisitions upon The Three last Psalmes of David. By Sir Richard Baker, Knight" 4to. 1639, there is an Exposition of Psalm 130. It will be found in Higham's reprint 1882 of Sir R. Baker's Expositions of the Psalms, pp. 257-271.

A Practical Exposition upon Psalm 130; wherein the Nature of the Forgiveness of Sin is declared; the Truth and Reality of it asserted; and the case of a Soul Distressed with the Guilt of Sin, and Relieved by a Discovery of Forgiveness with God, is at large Discoursed By John Owen, D.D., 4to.], 1668, 1669, 1680. There are modern reprints of this Exposition; and it is in Vol. 6 of Owen's Works, edited by W. H. Goold, 1881.

In "The Whole Works of Robert Leighton, D.D., Archbishop of Glasgow, 4 vols., 8yD., 1725", there are "Meditations on Psalm 130." Vol. 2. pp. 510-540.

Forty Five Sermons upon The 130 Psalme. Preached at IRWIN. By that Eminent Servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. George Hutcheson -- 1678], Minister of the Gospel. Edinburgh ... 1691. 8vo.

In "Sermons preached in Christ Church, Brighton, from October, 1877, to July, 1878, by the Rev. James Vaughan, M.A. London, 1878", there is a Course of Lenten Sermons on the 130th Psalm, entitled "Steps to Heaven."