S2_EP13 - From the Depths of Woe

As we approach the season of Lent,  beginning on February 14th with Ash Wednesday, It's a time for believers to peel back the layers of their hearts and prepare for the triumph of Easter through self-examination. And what better way to traverse these depths than with Martin Luther's stirring hymn "From the Depths of Woe"? In this episode of we voyage into the Lenten season, where the enduring truths of self-denial and Christ's love intertwine to renew our spirits.

The echoes of "From the Depths of Woe" resonate within me, a melody that awakened my soul to the beauty of grace. Martin Luther's words—a deep cry for redemption—are as relevant today as they were during the Reformation, reminding us that our salvation is a gift, not a paycheck earned by our deeds. It's an assurance that lifts our spirit, and together, we'll unravel the hymn's rich narrative and Luther's monumental doctrine of justification by faith alone. Inspired by Psalm 130, this hymn offers a comforting embrace for those yearning for mercy and a patient trust in the Lord's promise.

With hearts attuned to the rhythm of repentance and renewal, we anticipate the weeks ahead, charged with blessings and the unwavering hope of the resurrection. May the peace of God's steadfast love and faithfulness carry you until we meet again.

_______________________________________________

SHOW LINKS:

"From the Depths of Woe (Psalm 130)" performed by Andrew Osenga and Emily DeLoach from the 2012 album Joy Beyond the Sorrow: Indelible Grace Vol. 6
 
Album Details:
Joy Beyond The Sorrow: Indelible Grace VI, released November 15, 2012
Andrew Osenga: Lead Vocal, Additional Electric Guitar
Emily Deloach: Lead Vocal
Belmont RUF students and our Kickstarter supporters: Choir
Andy Hubbard: Drums and Percussion
Chris Weigel: Bass
Kevin Twit: Banjitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar:
Cason Cooley: Keys

 Sheet music for “From the Depths of Woe" and other resources from Indelible Grace Music available here.

Instrumental version of "From the Depths of Woe" used in this episode is from Imago Piano. Music arranged and performed by Michael Tjahjadi.
🎵 Listen on Spotify
🎵 Listen on Apple Music

Relaxing piano cover by Michael Tjahjadi (Imago Piano)
Original Composer: Martin Luther and Christopher Miner
Based on version by Indelible Grace Music

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

The cross welcomes us to look inside and around us and be dissatisfied. It welcomes us not to the dissatisfaction that leaves us hopeless, but a dissatisfaction that leads us to the foot of the cross, where mercy and grace are found. Paul, david Trip, this is the Bright Forever. Hello and welcome to the Bright Forever where, each week, we rediscover the power and richness found in some of the greatest hymns of the faith. My name is Andy Peelyhouse and I am your host and guide on this our journey through hymnity. It is great to be back with you again this week. This week we begin the season of Lent. As a matter of fact, tomorrow, many of you call it Valentine's Day, but it actually, in this particular year, is the beginning of the Lenten season. It's also known as Ash Wednesday.

Speaker 1: 1:30

Lent, originating from the Latin word quadragesima, meaning 40, refers to the 40-day period of fasting, reflection and repentance leading up to Easter Sunday. Lent finds its roots in the 40 days of fasting and temptation Jesus experienced in the wilderness. Though many think Lent is specifically a Catholic observance, I believe Lent holds a particular resonance to all Christians because it invites us, as believers, to journey inward, examining our hearts and our lives in light of God's holiness and grace. It serves as a season of self-examination, of repentance and renewal. As we embark on this Lenten journey, we are reminded of the depth of our need for God's saving grace and the transformative power of Christ's sacrificial love. Through practices such as fasting, prayer giving, we have an opportunity to draw close to God, to deepen our faith and to prepare our hearts to experience the joy of Easter morning. We are not doing a specific series for Lent, like we did for Advent, but throughout this season we will delve into topics such as the significance of Christ's Atonement, our need for repentance and forgiveness, and the hope and assurance we find in the resurrection. So make sure to hit that follow button, click subscribe and join us on this journey of exploration and discovery, as we seek to encounter the everlasting hope found in Christ alone.

Speaker 1: 3:32

In today's podcast, we will be diving into a hymn with which you may not be very familiar we're exploring From the Depths of Woe, by the great reformer Martin Luther. So come along with us as we explore this powerful song and with it, this extraordinary season of Lent. In 1523, martin Luther, the towering figure of the Protestant Reformation, penned the hymn From the Depths of Woe Luther's life and ministry, as we've talked about before on this podcast, were marked by a deep commitment to reforming the church and restoring the centrality of the gospel in people's lives. Amidst the tumultuous landscape of the early 16th century, luther found himself grappling with the weight of human sinfulness and the need for God's grace. It was during this period of personal and theological introspection that Luther composed, from the Depths of Woe, a poignant expression of his own spiritual journey and the universal cry of humanity for redemption.

Speaker 1: 5:01

Psalm 130, my Soul Waits for the Lord, a Song of a Sense. Out of the depths, I cry to you, o Lord. O Lord, hear my voice, let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy. If you, o Lord, should mark iniquities, o Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness that you may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than watchmen for the morning. More than watchmen for the morning, o Israel, hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is steadfast love and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Speaker 1: 6:17

Psalm 130, often referred to as the Day Profundus or Out of the Depths, serves as the foundational text that Luther used for his hymn. Written by an anonymous psalmist, possibly during a time of personal or maybe mutual distress, psalm 130 captures the raw emotions of human suffering, repentance and longing for God's mercy. The psalmist cries out to the Lord from the depths of despair, acknowledging the reality of sin and pleading for forgiveness and redemption. This theme of lamentation and hope in the face of adversity resonates deeply with the passions expressed in Luther's hymn. Let's both grapple with our experience of sinfulness and the desperate need for God's grace. Psalm 130 offers us a look into the nature of God's character and the path to our redemption. The psalmist acknowledges the depth of God's mercy and forgiveness, affirming that when we hope in the Lord, there is steadfast love and plentiful redemption. It's this declaration of God's abundant grace and steadfast love that serves as theme for our hymn. As we sing from the depths of woe, we echo the confession of the psalmist, affirming our trust in God's mercy and finding hope in his promise of redemption. The hymn reflects Luther's profound understanding of biblical doctrine, specifically the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Luther himself wrestled with feelings of despair and unworthiness in the face of God's holiness. Yet he found solace in the assurance of God's grace, extended through Christ's sacrificial death on the cross. Luther's hymn became a poignant expression of the Reformation's emphasis on the sufficiency of Christ's Atonement and the assurance of salvation through faith. Sola gratia, through grace alone. Sola fide, by faith alone. Solas cristus, in Christ alone. Soli deo gloria, the glory of God alone. In writing this hymn, luther gave voice to the cries of repentance and hope that resonated throughout the Reformation era and that continue to echo in our hearts today. The hymn served as a powerful vehicle for conveying the foundational truths of the gospel to the masses, as congregations sang of their reliance on God's mercy and their confidence in Christ's redeeming work.

Speaker 1: 10:19

From the depth of woe, I raise to thee a voice of lamentation. Lord, turn a gracious ear to me and hear my supplication. If thou iniquities dost, mark our secret sins and misteeds dark, oh, who shall stand before thee To wash away the crimson stain? Grace, grace alone availeth Our works. Alas, are all in vain. In much the best life faileth. No man can glory in thy sight almost alike, confess thy might and live alone by mercy. Therefore, my trust is in the Lord and not in my own merit. On him my soul shall rest. His word upholds my fainting spirit. His promised mercy is my fort, my comfort and my sweet support. I wait for it with patience. What though? I wait the live-long night until the dawn appeareth. My heart still trusted in his might. It doubteth not nor feareth. Do thus, o ye of Israel's seed, ye of the Spirit born indeed, and wait till God appeareth. Though great our sins and sore our woes, his grace much more aboundeth, his helping love no limit knows Our utmost need, it soundeth. Our shepherd, good and true is he who will at last his Israel free from all their sin and sorrow.

Speaker 1: 13:02

Verse 1 of From the Depths of Woe begins with a cry echoing that sentiment from Psalm 130, verses 1 and 2, which says Out of the depths I cry to you, o Lord. Lord, hear my voice, let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. This verse encapsulates the universal human experience of grappling with the weight of our sin and the desperation we have for mercy and forgiveness from our God. It reflects the heartfelt plea of the Psalmist and of believers throughout the ages, who recognize their inadequacy and sinfulness before a holy and righteous God Looking through a gospel lens. Verse 1 of this hymn serves as a reminder of the truth of salvation by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus. As the hymn expresses the cry for mercy and forgiveness, it points to the central message of the gospel that salvation is a gift freely offered by God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2, 8 and 9 reinforces this truth, stating For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. In this verse we are reminded that it is not by our own merit or by our good works, but by God's grace alone that we are saved. So verse 1 serves as that powerful proclamation of the truth of the gospel that God's mercy and His forgiveness are freely offered to those who place their trust in Him.

Speaker 1: 15:38

One of the things I love about verse 1 is it reminds me of my life before Christ. Now, I grew up in church. I grew up hearing all the Bible stories and hearing about Jesus, and I knew so much about God and I've shared this before, as a matter of fact, in episode 2 of season 1, where I talk about my salvation that I knew a lot about God, but I didn't know Him. And this verse reminds me of the moment when my sin became real to me and I just cried out Lord, turn a gracious ear to me and hear my supplication because, god, if your iniquities mark us and our secret sins and misdeeds, and you're taking record of all those things, I can't stand. I break under the pressure and so I'm crying out to you God, hear me and show me grace.

Speaker 1: 17:16

That reminds me of before I was saved, of the absolute desperation I felt, thinking I had it all clear in my mind, thinking I've been in church my whole life. Of course I'm Christian, of course I have a relationship with Jesus. Hello, my mom is on staff. My dad's been a Sunday school teacher for 30, 40 years. Come on, of course I'm saved. And I finally had to drop to my knees and say God, turn a gracious ear to me, because if you are marking down my sin, I cannot stand before you.

Speaker 1: 18:07

But I love the fact that it doesn't leave us there. Neither the Psalm nor the hymn leave us in this place. Verse two finds that central theme of grace and the insufficiency of human works for salvation. It echoes what we just read in Ephesians, for as by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves. It is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. This verse shows us the foundational truth that salvation cannot be earned through human effort or by good works, but it is a free gift of God's grace, extended for all who believe in Jesus Christ.

Speaker 1: 18:59

The hymn underscores the futility of even relying on human works for salvation. It echoes Paul and his assertion in Romans 3.20 that says therefore, no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law. Rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. The law is not there to tell us hey, you gotta get to work. No, the law is saying the work that you do, it can't measure up. You need salvation, you need a savior. Paul tells us also that all of the righteousness we can muster, all of the good we can do, is but filthy rags. Instead, the hymn points to the sufficiency of God's grace alone for salvation, highlighting the message of the gospel that it is through faith in Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice on the cross that we are made righteous before God. Only through Christ are we made righteous. We can't earn it.

Speaker 1: 20:21

We have to be transformed. Just like so many hymns, each of us kind of builds a part of the story and in verse three it shifts from our sin and the grace that we need to. How are we gonna respond? How do we respond to God's grace? How do we respond to God's mercy? It begins with the declaration of trust in the Lord, Goes back to Psalm 130, verse five, where it says I wait for the Lord.

Speaker 1: 21:00

My whole being waits and in his word I put my hope. It underscores the importance of placing one's trust and confidence in God, especially in times of trial, especially in times of distress and despair. It reflects the psalmist's acknowledgement of God's faithfulness and his unwavering trust in God's promises. The hymn then emphasizes our reliance on God's promised mercy as a source of our strength, a source of our comfort, a source of support. It goes to Psalm 130, verse seven, which says Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

Speaker 1: 22:01

Our trust in God's promised mercy serves as the source of our hope. It's the source of our assurance, providing comfort and strength in the midst of challenges, in the midst of life's circumstances. This verse serves as a call to patience and steadfastness and faith. I don't know if you've ever heard this phrase that if you ever want patience, you can pray for patience, but then just watch out, because God will flood you and flood your life with opportunities for patience, to teach you patience. This verse serves as a call to that patience, to having a steadfast faith, encouraging us to wait on the Lord with confidence, but not just with confidence. It doesn't just stop there.

Speaker 1: 23:11

Wait on the Lord with expectation, knowing that his mercy and his redemption are sure. We hope in something. We have an expectation of something so much greater than we could possibly ever know, and we're called to steadfast faith and to wait patiently.

Speaker 1: 23:49

So verse three becomes a powerful reminder of our response in faith, our response in trust, and reminding us to place our hope and our confidence in God's unfailing love and redemption through what Christ has done for us on the cross. Verse four continues to remind us Just in case you didn't hear, the wait patiently, let's reiterate it one more time You're gonna wait the live long night until the dawn of Perth. You're gonna trust in his might and doubt not and wait and wait, wait till God appear. It's like, well, verse three wasn't enough. You remember you're gonna have to wait on the Lord, but there's an expectation that comes in that and our reliance on God's mercy and redemption.

Speaker 1: 24:48

It begins with a recognition of the trials, of the challenges that we face, echoing what Psalm 30, verse five, says for his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning. It may be bad right now and you may be in despair and everything in your life may feel like it is falling apart. Just wait through the live long night until the dawn appeareth. My heart still trustseth in his might. It doubteth not, nor feareth. Do thus, o, ye of Israel's seed, ye of the Spirit born indeed, and wait till God, appeareth God's anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime.

Speaker 1: 26:05

I love that verse. Weeping may stay for that, live long night, but joy comes in the morning. And this verse acknowledges that. It says look, there's going to be times when it feels like you're just walking around in the dark and that this is going to last. This night is going to last forever. Wait for the dawn, Look for the light, Trust in God, Don't doubt that he will come through. You don't have to fear. You don't have to doubt Trust in God's might, in God's strength. Just as the psalmist trusted in God's steadfast love and redemption, so too are we called to place our hope and our confidence in God's power to save and deliver.

Speaker 1: 27:16

Verse five is where it all culminates, in the proclamation of God's boundless grace. It begins with an acknowledgement of the enormity of human sin and suffering. Translations of Romans 3.23,. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, the reality of our brokenness and our desperate need for God's grace.

Speaker 1: 27:44

The hymn then shifts to a declaration of hope and assurance in God's boundless love and redemption. It points to Ephesians 1.7, which says in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. Our trust in God's redeeming love serves as a source of our hope, of our comfort, providing assurance and forgiveness and restoration. It reminds us of Romans 5 that we talked about last week in verse 20. Now the law came to increase the trespass. But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more. Though great our sins and soar our woes, his grace much more abounded.

Speaker 1: 28:45

This verse serves as a reminder of our dependence on God's grace for salvation and it encourages us to place our trust, place all of our trust, in God's unfailing love. As we close out this episode, may we be reminded of the truth that is deeply embedded in these verses. Let this hymn be a source of comfort, strength, assurance as you navigate life's trials. May it lead you to a deeper understanding of God's mercy, his steadfast love, his faithfulness towards you. May the words of this hymn resound in your hearts, lifting your spirits and drawing you even closer to the heart of God.

Speaker 3: 30:27

From the depths of woe I raise to thee the voice of lamentation. Lord, turn a gracious ear to me and hear my supplication. If thou and equities dust, mark our secret sins and misdeeds dark.

Speaker 4: 31:10

O who shall stand before?

Speaker 3: 31:16

thee To wash away the crimson stain. Grace, grace alone availeth. Our works, alas, are all in vain, and much the best life faileth. No man can glory in thy sight, almost alike. Confess thy might and live alone by mercy Live alone by mercy.

Speaker 4: 32:22

Therefore, my trust is in the Lord and not in my own merit. All in my soul shall rest. His word upholds my fainting spirit. His promised mercy is my fort, my comfort and my sweet support. I wait for it with patience. What do I wake the live long night until the dawn appeareth. My heart still trusts death in his might. It doubteth not love feareth To the soul. Ye of Israel, see ye of the Spirit. Pour him, deep Wait till God appeareth. No greater sins and soul harvows his grace. Much more about death. There is helping love. No living knows. Our utmost need is sounded. Our shepherd, good and true, is he who will at last his Israel free. All in sin and sorrow, israel, all in sin and sorrow, all in sin and sorrow.

Speaker 1: 36:32

All in sin and sorrow. That was From the Depths of Woe. Psalm 130 by Indelible Grace Music, featuring Andrew Ossenga and Emily Deloche, from their 2012 album Joy Beyond the Sorrow Indelible Grace, volume 6. For more information about this song and all of the amazing resources available at Indelible Grace Music, check out the links in the show notes for this episode.

Speaker 1: 37:10

Thank you for joining us this week on the Bright Forever. Remember to follow us, review us and, of course, subscribe and check out all of the features on our website by going to wwwthembrightforevercom. We always want to hear from you. There are multiple ways you can do that. You can always email us at podcast at thebrightforevercom. You can also click the contact us tab at the top of our website and send us a message through our contact form. You can go to the website and click the radio microphone in the bottom right corner and record a message of up to two minutes and let us know what you think of the podcast. And, of course, do not miss an opportunity to show off the fact that you listen to the Bright Forever. Visit our new merch store on our website by simply clicking the store tab in the menu.

Speaker 1: 38:07

Lastly, I do have a shout out. I want to say thank you to Pam Eubank, who has become a Bright Forever Plus subscriber. I cannot tell you how awesome it is when people give to this podcast. I am absolutely humbled and I am so appreciative. Thank you so much for believing in what we do here at the Bright Forever. Your financial support means the world to us as we continue to try and reach more and more people each and every week as we do this podcast. If those of you out there who are listening would like to help reach a greater audience with these hymns, take a moment and go to TheBrightForevercom and click the support the podcast tab in the menu. You can subscribe by giving three, five, eight or ten dollars per month to help support what we are doing here at the Bright Forever. And if you are not ready to commit to every month, you can always click the yellow coffee icon at the bottom left of our page and give a five dollar or greater one time gift through our ByMeacoffeecom supporters account. Thank you again for listening and I hope you all have an amazing week and a great Lenten season.

Speaker 1: 39:29

Before we go, let me close us out in prayer. Father, I thank you for your grace, father, though our sins are great and there are times where we are just desperate. For you, your grace abounds even greater. Father, thank you for who you are. Thank you that we do not have to fear, we do not have to doubt that we have an expectation and assurance of not just salvation, but of a future of a world beyond this one. God, I thank you for everything that you do, for all that you do in us.

Speaker 1: 40:35

God, as we go through these next 40 days, as we go through this season of Lent, remind us of our sin. God, the cross welcomes us to look inside and look around and to be dissatisfied, to want something greater and better. It welcomes us not to dissatisfaction that leaves us hopeless, but a dissatisfaction that leads us to the foot of the cross, where we find mercy and grace in our Savior. God, we love you. We praise you. Give us an amazing week in your son's name, jesus. Amen. God bless you all. Have a great week and I'll see you back here next week. We're out.