Psalms 130:3

If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? IF THOU, LORD, SHOULDEST MARK INIQUITIES, O LORD, WHO SHALL STAND? "Mark" - i:e., take strict account of iniquities (; ; ). "Stand" is a legal term for, be justified (cf. ). To fall - i:e., to be condemned-is the opposite term (cf. note, ; ; ). If thou, Jah (the concentrated essence of all that Yahweh implies), shouldest mark mine iniquities which are the cause of my suffering...

3._If thou, O God! shoudst mark iniquities _(119) Here the Prophet acknowledges that although grievously afflicted, he had justly deserved such punishment, as had been inflicted upon him. As by his own example he gives a rule which the whole Church ought to observe, let no man presume to intrude himself into the presence of _God, _but in the way of humbly deprecating his wrath; and especially when God exercises severity in his dealings towards us, let us know that we are required to make the same confession which is here uttered. Whoever either flatters himself or buries his sins by inattention to them, deserves to pine away in his miseries; at least he is unworthy of obtaining from God the smallest alleviation. Whenever God then exhibits the tokens of his wrath, let even the man who seems to others to be the holiest of all his fellows, descend to make this confession, that should God de...

1-4 The only way of relief for a sin-entangled soul, is by applying to God alone. Many things present themselves as diversions, many things offer themselves as remedies, but the soul finds that the Lord alone can heal. And until men are sensible of the guilt of sin, and quit all to come at once to God, it is in vain for them to expect any relief. The Holy Ghost gives to such poor souls a fresh sense of their deep necessity, to stir them up in earnest applications, by the prayer of faith, by crying to God. And as they love their souls, as they are concerned for the glory of the Lord, they are not to be wanting in this duty. Why is it that these matters are so long uncertain with them? Is it not from sloth and despondency that they content themselves with common and customary applications to God? Then let us up and be doing; it must be done, and it is attended with safety. We are to humbl...

Verse Psalms 130:3. _IF THOU - SHOULDEST MARK INIQUITIES_] If thou shouldst set down every deviation in thought, word, and deed from thy holy law; and if thou shouldst call us into judgment for all our infidelities, both of heart and life; O Lord, who could stand? Who could stand such a trial, and who could stand acquitted in the judgment? This is a most solemn saying; and if we had not the doctrine that is in the next verse, who could be saved?...

IF THOU, LORD, SHOULDEST MARK INIQUITIES - If thou shouldst observe, note, attend to, regard all the evil that I have done. The Hebrew word means properly to keep, to watch, to guard. The word, as used here, refers to that kind of vigilance or watchfulness which one is expected to manifest who is on guard; who keeps watch in a city or camp by night. The idea is, If God should thus look with a scrutinizing eye; if he should try to see all that he could see; if he should suffer nothing to escape his observation; if he should deal with us exactly as we are; if he should overlook nothing, forgive nothing, we could have no hope. WHO SHALL STAND? - Who shall stand upright? Who could stand before thee? Who could hope to be acquitted? This implies (1) that the petitioner was conscious of guilt, or knew that he was a sinner; (2) that he fe

EXPOSITION THE cry of Israel in extreme distress—apparently a Captivity song. Israel has sinned and been punished; it now acknowledges its sins, and prays for mercy and forgiveness. Towards the end (Psalms 130:7, Psalms 130:8)the prayer rises into confident hope. Metrically, the psalm consists of four stanzas, each of two verses. PSALMS 130:1 OUT OF THE DEPTHS HAVE I CRIED UNTO THEE, O LORD (comp. Psalms 69:2, Psalms 69:14;...

IF THOU, LORD, SHOULDEST MARK INIQUITIES,.... Or "observe" f them. Not but that God does observe the sins of men: he sees all the evil actions of bad men done in the dark, which cannot hide them from him; and all the iniquities of good men, so as to correct and chastise for them, but not with his eye of vindictive justice. Or "keep" g them; should he keep a watchful eye over them, make strict inspection into them, enter into a critical examination of them, and of all their aggravated circumstances; should he keep them in mind and memory, retain them in the book of his remembrance; should he lay them up, and keep them sealed among his stores, in order to be brought to light, and brought out as charges another day, and to the condemnation of men; should he set them before him in the light of his countenance, and not cast them behind his back and into the depths of the sea; should he visit...

Psalms 130:1. _Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD._ «Sinking, sinking, sinking, drowning, dying, hope all but gone, almost everything gone, yet I have cried unto thee; with much fear, and little hope, ‘Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.'» Psalms 130:2. _Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?_ Judged by ourselves, on the ground of absolute justice, none of us can hope to stand before his judgment seat without being condemned. I trust that we all know and feel that this is true. Psalms 130:4. But there is forgiveness with t

PSALM 120-134 The Psalms of Degrees Fifteen brief Psalms follow, called songs of degrees, or, ascents. They were in all probability used by Israel going up to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the feasts of the Lord--”Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, a testimony for Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.” They are indeed Psalms of “the goings-up” for we rise higher and higher as we read through them. Prophetically they give us again the steps from trial and suffering to the glorious consummation. As they are so simple in language and construction no lengthy annotations are needed. Psalms 120:1 begins with distress, picturing again the suffering of the righteous godly remnant. In Psalms 121:1 the Keeper of Israel, the Covenant Keeping God, is revealed

CXXX. WAITING FOR GOD. Psalms 130:1. depths refers primarily to God's exaltation in heaven, man's position far below on earth. Psalms 130:4. The fear of Yahweh was to pious Jews the sum of religion. If God withdrew His kindness and pardon, no man could stand. On the other hand, forgiveness encourages a sinner to fear God and keep His commandments. The LXX reads, for thy name's sake....