Psalms 130:6

6 my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.

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 there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.
8 It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.