My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning.

Psalm 130:6

Sonnet for Psalm 130

A song of ascents rising from the deep,
This prayer whispered on a dark staircase,
An urgent plea when life's hill seems too steep,
From a soul seeking God's lightening grace.
Desperate words bringing hope in the night
Because they shine truth on our hid despair,
Requesting for all, who walk not by sight,
A hand to reach out and lead us to where
Hope can be found, the rise of a new day.
To all who wait for the Lord, more than those
Who watch for the morning, who seek a ray
Of light in life, and rest for their tired souls:
Come to me, says He who came with such love,
And rest in the light that shines from above.

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Psalm 130 is a poignant “Song of Ascents” crying out of the depths of our human need to our God above. It is a psalm about waiting, but waiting in faith. As Simone Weil once put it so well, “Waiting patiently in expectation is the foundation of the spiritual life.” This psalm invites us to this faithful waiting. And when we tire of waiting, Jesus invites us to come to him and find rest for our weary souls.

My sonnet, inspired by this psalm, is another in the series that I have written since this pandemic began. It has been a blessing to me spend so much time and prayer with the psalms, and these sonnets are the fruit of that. Here, then, is Psalm 130, followed by other scripture passages that I had in mind when I wrote the sonnet, along with the sonnet again, followed by a closing prayer:

Psalm 130
A Song of Ascents

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
    to the voice of my supplications!
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
    Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you,
    so that you may be revered.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
    and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
    more than those who watch for the morning,
    more than those who watch for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord!
    For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
    and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel
    from all its iniquities.

Scripture Passages

We walk by faith, not by sight. – 2 Corinthians 5:7

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28

Sonnet for Psalm 130

A song of ascents rising from the deep,
This prayer whispered on a dark staircase,
An urgent plea when life's hill seems too steep,
From a soul seeking God's lightening grace.
Desperate words bringing hope in the night
Because they shine truth on our hid despair,
Requesting for all, who walk not by sight,
A hand to reach out and lead us to where
Hope can be found, the rise of a new day.
To all who wait for the Lord, more than those
Who watch for the morning, who seek a ray
Of light in life, and rest for their tired souls:
Come to me, says He who came with such love,
And rest in the light that shines from above.

Closing Prayer

O Lord, we wait for you and we watch for you, sometimes patiently, sometimes not. Help us to wait and to trust, and always to hope in you. Help us to walk by faith, not by sight, knowing that you are walking with us every step of the way. Lord, hear our voice as we pray to you, and help us to hear your voice, too. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Here are links to all of the other “Sonnets for Psalms” that I have shared on my blog:

1. Sonnet for Psalm 1
2. Sonnet for Psalm 8
3. Sonnet for Psalm 16
4. Sonnet for Psalm 19
5. Sonnet for Psalm 24
6. Sonnet for Psalm 27
7. Sonnet for Psalm 42
8. Sonnet for Psalm 46
9. Sonnet for Psalm 51
10. Sonnet for Psalm 61
11. Sonnet for Psalm 62
12. Sonnet for Psalm 90
13. Sonnet for Psalm 91
14. Sonnet for Morning Prayer (Sonnet for Psalm 95)
15. A Sonnet of Thanksgiving (Sonnet for Psalm 100)
16. Sonnet for Psalm 101
17. Sonnet for Psalm 103
18. Sonnet for Psalm 116
19. Sonnet for Psalm 119
20. Sonnet for Psalm 121
21. Sonnet for Psalm 131
22. Sonnet for Evening Prayer (Sonnet for Psalm 141)
23. Sonnet for Psalm 145
24. Sonnet for Psalm 146