Psalms 130:6

6 I wait for the Lord to help me more than night watchmen wait for the dawn, more than night watchmen wait for the dawn.

Psalms 130:6 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 130:6

My soul [waiteth] for the Lord
This is repeated for the confirmation of it, and to show the vehement and constant disposition of his mind towards the Lord; as well as for the sake of what follows:

more than they that watch for the morning: [I say, more than] they
that watch for the morning;
or, "more than the morning watchers, that watch for or until the morning" F8; than watchmen of cities, or the keepers of the wails, as Aben Ezra; those who are upon the last morning watch, and are looking out for the morning light; that they may go off from duty, and lie down and sleep: or than those that sit up with sick persons; who, being solitary and melancholy, as well as want sleep, long for the morning, that they may have some refreshment: or rather than the priests and Levites that watched in the temple, that waited for the morning, that they might be relieved by others; or else than those of that function, who were very diligent to observe the break of day, that they might enter upon their morning sacrifices; of which are many instances in the Misnah F9. So the Targum,

``more than they that observe the morning watches, which they observe to offer up the morning sacrifice:''

and Kimchi's paraphrase is,

``who rise in the morning watches to pray.''

The coming of Christ is said to be as the morning; and the light of God's countenance is comparable to the morning light; the discoveries of pardoning grace are through the bright shining of the sun of righteousness, and is the healing that is in his wings; and salvation and deliverance from any distress Is light that breaks forth as the morning: all and each of these are more desirable, and more to be waited for, than the natural light of the morning; see ( 2 Samuel 23:4 ) ( Hosea 6:3 ) ( Psalms 30:4 ) ( Malachi 4:2 ) ( Isaiah 58:8 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F8 So Junius & Tremellius, Musculus, Cocceius.
F9 See Misn. Yoma, c. 3. s. 1. & Tamid, c. 3. s. 2.

Psalms 130:6 In-Context

4 But you forgive us, so you are respected.
5 I wait for the Lord to help me, and I trust his word.
6 I wait for the Lord to help me more than night watchmen wait for the dawn, more than night watchmen wait for the dawn.
7 People of Israel, put your hope in the Lord because he is loving and able to save.
8 He will save Israel from all their sins. A song for going up to worship. Of David.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.