3 December 2018

Revelation 16
Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
    to my cry for mercy.

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
    for with the Lord is unfailing love
    and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
    from all their sins.

Psalm 130:1-8

‘Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!’ (verse 1). This is no casual prayer to God, but a desperate one for mercy. God really listens to the cry of the humble heart. (James 4:6). If God does not listen and forgive us, then we are lost. Verse 3 says, ‘If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?’

Let us cry out to God for mercy, He will hear and forgive our sins (verse 4 and 8). God wants to forgive us. What a wonderful mystery! And He has made a way of forgiveness – in Jesus. Our response should be to ‘fear him’ (verse 4).

‘I wait for the Lord, my soul waits…’ (verse 6). Let us wait expectantly on the Presence of the Living God, that we receive His steadfast love for our souls (verse 5 and 7). God will respond, for even in this Psalm, God seems to have the nature of a good Father – approachable, forgiving and kind.

‘And in his Word I hope…’ (verse 5). We can have true hope through God’s word and the integrity of His promises. Aren’t you so glad that you can trust what God says and come to Him? He is the One who gives ‘steadfast love’ and ‘redeems Israel from ALL his iniquities.’ (verse 7) What a comfort one word spoken by the Holy Spirit through the prophet can be: ‘All’.

Absolute forgiveness.

Heavenly Father, we cry out to You for mercy and forgiveness. We wait on You for you to keep Your word and help us. We praise You for Your redemption and love.