Psalm 130
“O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem” (v. 7).
Psalm 130 is one of seven penitential psalms, along with Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102 and 143. In each, the psalmist acknowledges or confesses their trespasses before God, recognizes their need for forgiveness, and confirms God’s power to forgive. These psalms are often used as prayers of confession during worship or in one’s personal prayers. While the authors of these penitential psalms do not always reveal their sin, the theme of repentance and God’s mercy and forgiveness resonate throughout.
When I was in college, a pattern emerged in my Bible class. The professor would pause and one person in the class would raise his hand with what always seemed to turn into more than a few questions. In one session, the professor illustrated mutual love, respect and equality with an example from his relationship with his wife. Soon the professor paused and inevitably, the student’s hand rose. He asked, “Don’t you want to win the argument with your wife? Don’t you have to be right?” The rest of the class leaned in a little closer, awaiting the professor’s response. “Neither of us has to be right,” he began. “Both of us need to forgive. Both of us need to be forgiven.” On that note, class was dismissed!
As we left the classroom, I heard someone say, “People are, people-ing again” — a reference to humanity’s uncanny ability to push one another’s buttons. Oh, dear friends, how often we “people,” especially when it comes to our relationships. We want to be right because we fear being wrong. We need forgiveness but find it difficult to ask for it. We need to give forgiveness, but our pride is too strong. And this is in our human relationships! Think of how this plays out in our relationship with God.
Often, we think we must come before God after we have already perfected ourselves or found the solution to our problems, forgetting that God’s love is what perfects us. Often, we think we must be sinless to enter God’s space, forgetting that Christ takes away our sins and God forgives us in Christ so that we can come boldly before God’s throne of mercy and grace. We depend on our abilities to live righteously, forgetting that it is God who makes us righteous through Jesus Christ and God’s Holy Spirit sanctifies us every day. We live into our own hope, forgetting the hope that is built on Christ. We suffer needlessly under the weight of sin, shame and guilt forgetting what a wondrous love the Savior has for us.
Psalm 130 reminds us that we do not need to be perfect in front of God. The writer laments, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord” (v. 1), expressing a deep need for God’s help. He implores God to hear his voice and be attentive to the voice of his supplication (v.2). Sin can cause us to feel like our sins have separated us far from God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s forgiveness and God’s presence. That is the great deception of sin! The psalmist models for us what the repentant heart looks like.
The one who repents comes to God, hoping that God will hear and provide forgiveness. The psalmist asks, “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?” (v. 3). Of course, the answer here is, “No one!” Yet, the psalmist leaves this question open-ended, and I imagine he pauses for a moment of contemplation before continuing. Perhaps his question should give us pause, too. Our sins are far too many. Imagine if God kept a record of our wrongs. Imagine if God held grudges the way we do. “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?” (v. 3).
In verses 4-6, what the psalmist eagerly expects from God is on the way — forgiveness. The psalmist waits for the Lord. With emphasis, his soul waits with hope in the word. Again, the psalmist’s soul waits. With emphasis, his soul waits “more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning” (v. 6). Then what he has received personally is extended to the whole community of Israel. That’s where we enter the story, too. God’s faithful love is waiting for each of us to come.
So, let’s turn now to the verse where we began. This time, insert your own name or the name of someone you know, “O _________, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord, there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.” Thanks be to God. Amen!
For reflection
- What sins do you need to confess to God? Confess them with words, a letter, a psalm or a song. Then trust that God has heard you and has forgiven you. Move forward with hope in God’s Word.
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