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.
Devotion
One of Johann Sebastian Bach’s most profound theological statements is found in his organ setting of Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (BWV 686), from his monumental collection Clavier-Übung III. Published in 1739, this collection served as a musical testament to Bach’s faith and a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Reformation in Leipzig.
Bach’s setting of Psalm 130 is the grandest and most complex in the entire collection. It is a six-part fugue that is as physically demanding as it is spiritually deep. To play it, the organist must use both feet to play individual, independent solo lines—the right foot carrying the baritone melody while the left foot provides the bass foundation.
Bach directs this piece to be played Organo Pleno (on full organ). The result is a sonic texture so thick and weighty that it serves as a literal representation of the “depths” described in the Psalm—the heavy weight of sin and the earnestness of a soul crying out for mercy.
To honor the heritage of the Reformation, Bach wrote this piece in the stile antico (ancient style), echoing the Renaissance polyphony of Martin Luther’s era. By choosing this “universal” church style, Bach strips away the individualistic flourishes of his own time, transforming a personal prayer of distress into a monumental pillar of communal faith.
Yet, in true Reformed fashion, the music does not leave us in the depths. As the piece reaches its conclusion, a “joy motif” emerges through the complex layers. It reminds us that for the believer, the cry of De Profundis (Out of the Depths) is always met with the optimism of God’s mercy.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, when the weight of the world feels too heavy to bear, remind us that You are present even in the depths. We thank You for the ‘joy motifs’ You weave into the difficult movements of our lives. Help us to wait for Your mercy with the certainty of the morning sun. Amen.
John Nothaft To listen and watch the score: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDN4uznAtv0