Ps 129 with Commentary by Dr Noel Donnelly
Although we frequently associate Psalm 129 with death, because of the “out of the depths” phrase that starts the psalm, verse one is the only possible allusion to death. Its original context was the eleventh of the Songs of Ascent, as the pilgrims went out the depths of the valley and up the final hill to the Jerusalem Temple.
Those “depths” suggest the deep waters of chaos which could surround the penitent pilgrim as he or she moves towards the forgiveness of God, appealing three times: “I cry to You! Hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my voice!” Since the time of Augustine, Psalm 129 has been used in the church as one of the 7 penitential psalms.
Verse 4 says, “with you is found forgiveness!.” The psalmist sees forgiveness as a characteristic feature of God. We know the phrase, “to err is human; to forgive divine”. The Hebrew word hesed , is a feminine word, often weakly translated as “mercy”, but it has a depth that means the unfailing love of a mother. It looks for a renewed relationship, just as the watchman looks with hope for the light of a new day, with its fresh opportunities ahead.
This hope is for the fullness of redemption.
In our Liturgy of the Word, it is the psalmist’s “depths” word that strangely links the Genesis 3 story of the fall in the first reading, while looking forward to the Gospel where Jesus goes through the depths of being blasphemously accused of being possessed by Satan.
When people are going through a dark time, down in the depths, or down in the dumps as we may put it, doubters may sometimes ask, “Is God listening?” The psalmist suggests simply, “Wait in hope!” Sometimes our hope-filled faith may not be in the head or even in the heart, but down in our feet as we deliberately walk in faith, as we try to wait in joyful hope. We remember Pope St John Paul inviting us ecumenically to walk hand in hand with one another, in joyful hope, and even reaching out to strangers for this journey. That was in 1982. Good advice at any time!
Ps 19: Noel Donnelly (c) Kevin Mayhew. Recorded by The St Mungo Singers
Ps 129: words (c) The Grail, England; music Francis Duffy. Recorded bye Grace Buckley.
