A Cry in Exile - Psalm 130

by Doug Floyd

Judith awakes in a cold sweat. “Where am I?”

The touch of the bed, the smell of the room, and the dim outlines of furniture. It all
seems alien. “This is not my father’s house.”

As the cloudy thoughts of sleep fade, she realizes yet again, “This is not my father’s
house.”

The house is quiet. No servants stirring. Her husband traveling with his regiment. She is
alone.

Walking out to her courtyard, Judith will take up watch for Jerusalem.

1
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
2
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

Even as she cries out on behalf on her people, Judith cannot avoid crying out from the
pain of her own grief.

“Don’t forsake us Lord. Your people sink down into the depths of Sheol. We are dying.
We long for Messiah. Hear us Lord!”

A chorus of exiled voices rise up in the night air, “Hear us Lord!” Jews living in towns
across the empire, continue crying, waiting, looking and longing for the restoration of
God’s people.

Even as Judith cries out on behalf of her people, her mind keeps returning home.

3
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.

Judith has been dead to her people for many years. Can a dead man live?

In the passion of her youth, she fell in love with a Roman soldier and gave all that she
could give. As it turned out, she gave more than she even knew. In her family’s eye, she
was no longer a Jew. Judith died. As did the child in her womb.
The journey to Rome was simply too difficult for her frail condition and the baby died en
route. Her new husband gave her everything she wanted, but he could not give her
another child. Her womb was dead.

Tonight in the stillness of the hour, she remembers. The bittersweet scent of the candles
as her mother welcomed the Shabbot. The piercing blast of the shofar during Rosh
Hashannah. And the holy hush on the “Day of Atonement.”

Atonement.

Even as she remembers, Judith longs that the Lord will not forget her. Can the Lord
hear her in this exile of her own making? Will He listen as she cries out from Sheol. Or
is she forever cut off? Cut off from family, from homeland, from yesterday.

She aches for atonement.

And so she waits for the lovingkindess of the Lord.

5
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.

“Come Goel. Come Redeemer Kinsman. Look with favor on your forsaken child.” She
dreams and longs for the restoration of her people, the restoration of her soul. As she
prays, she remembers her husband telling stories about a Jew being held captive in the
city. Apparently, he is meeting with Jews and Gentiles alike. He has stories. Fantastic
stories of a the Lord dwelling in the midst his people. Amazing stories of redemption and
love and forgiveness.

It may all be nonsense. And yet, what if? Maybe she will talk to this strange Jew as well.
Judith rises and looks to the east for the coming of the dawn.

O Israel, hope in the LORD!

7

For with the LORD there is steadfast love,

and with him is plentiful redemption.
8
And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.