PSALMS 130:1-8

PSALM 40:1-3

KEY THOUGHT

God’s mercy is available to all who sincerely ask for it.

This Psalm falls within the category of Psalms that are known as the Psalms of Ascent or Songs of Ascents. These were a collection of Psalms/Songs that were used by people of Israel as they were on the journey to the Temple in Jerusalem for their annual feasts of sacrifice, particularly the Day of Atonement. The Temple was built on the High Place within Jerusalem, so people had to come from below. You had to ascend to the Temple from anywhere, because its on the top of the hill.

Remember the Day of Atonement was the one day a year, when the Priest went into the Holy of Holies standing before the mercy seat of God and offered sacrifice for the sins of his people.

So this Psalm is itself a Song of Ascents that starts with agony and it ascends to the great heights of rejoicing and forgiveness that’s found in God.

This Psalm is a powerful expression of repentance, hope and trust in God’s redeeming love. It offers comfort and guidance for anyone who is facing spiritual or emotional struggles. It is a cry from the depths of human despair, expressing the weight of sin, the hope of God’s forgiveness and the assurance of redemption.

1. LEARN TO EXPRESS YOURSELF BEFORE GOD- vs 1-2 “Out of the depths, I cry to you Lord”
   • Don’t just pray but cry unto the Lord whenever we are absolutely and utterly at the bottom.
   • If you were truly convicted by the Holy Spirit at salvation, you would understand that its one thing to pray. And it’s entirely a different thing to cry before God.
   • Don’t despise or judge those who shed tears before the Lord. It shows they are sincere with their hearts. Luke 18  (The parable of a Pharisee and a Tax Collector)
   • We can all bring our deepest struggles and failures to God’s attention with confidence that he hears us. Verse 2
   • This Psalm teaches us that forgiveness begins with honest acknowledgement and openness to God’s mercy.
2. WE SHOULD BE REMINDED THAT HUMANITY CANNOT STAND BEFORE GOD BASED ON MERIT ALONE  Verses 3-4 “If you oh Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord who could stand?”
   • This emphasizes the reality of sin and the impossibility of self-justification.
   • “For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourself, it is the gift of God; it is not from works so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
   • Humans are declared righteous (being justified freely) by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.
   • God does not keep a record or fix his eye on our sins,and this is the foundation of human hope and forgiveness.
   • We are offered an assurance that God is a cosmic scorekeeper waiting to punish, but a redeemer who forgives.
   • This Psalm is an assurance of God’s mercy. He says, “with you there is forgiveness so that we may with reverence serve you”
   • God’s forgiveness is not merely a pardon. It is a gracious, and international act that restores and transforms lives.
   • Forgiveness is not a license to sin. It cultivates fear and reverence in a Christ follower and encourages trust and faithful living rather than carelessness.
   • Forgiveness with God is so abundant and comprehensive-it covers all iniquities and invites us to live in a renewed relationship with Him.
   • Forgiveness must restore connection with God and empower a life of devotion.
3. LET US LEARN TO WAIT AND HOPE IN THE LORD -V.5-6
   • I wait for the Lord, I expectantly wait, and in His word do I hope; My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait”
   • This waiting demonstrates active reliance on God’s Timing. Galatians 4:4-5: God sent Jesus at the exact time when it had fully come.
   • Lamentations 3:25-26: “the Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him. It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord”.
   • There is a purpose in waiting. God is often working behind the scenes, using waiting periods to build faith.
   • Scripture often calls for active trust and diligence, not passive idling (Galatians 6:9)
   • It means having trust and faith that are anchored on His promises during periods of spiritual or emotional struggles.
4. THIS REDEMPTION AND HOPE SHOULD EXTEND TO THE COMMUNITIES AND NATIONS: VERSES 7-8

        “ O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the lord there is mercy and loving-kindness, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all their iniquities”.

• A-There is always hope for those who trust in the redeeming power of God. When Israel lifted up    her voice to the Lord, an action that followed was to walk to the Hill where the Holy of Holies was.
• B-They recognized the day of redemption. They sang and prepared their hearts to receive from the Lord.
• C-Plenteous redemption highlights that we are fully discharged from guilt though Jesus Christ.
• D- The redemption is not merely enough but plenteous-It is a complete, all sufficient sacrifice that meets every spiritual need.
• E-This redemptions covers not just sins, but all sins.
• F-It provides total liberation from guilt and power of transgression.
• G-It is more than enough for all communities, families, all nations.
• H-His grace is ever more than sufficient to be given.

      CONCLUSION

• God’s mercy is greater than our failures. As discussed in the context of Psalm 130, this redemption reaches individuals in the deepest, most hopeless situations. It offers hope, comfort and restoration. No matter how deep the situation might be. God’s redeeming power is deeper.

      JUST CRY OUT!