unspeakable Joy

A Song of Ascents.
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!

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.

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.

7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.

- Psalm 130

This rich Psalm begins with two verses of desperation to two verses of confession.  I believe we must get to the point that we see the desparation sin leaves in order to cling to the confession of our hearts.  In other words, we must fully understand what is at stake when we sin in order to agree with the sin in view of Scripture.  I’ve talked with several folks over the years that truly agonize over their sin.  They see their sin in view of God’s holiness and their simple response is confession.  This Psalm is beautiful, because it naturally goes to hope in verses 5-6.  The writer understands the sin (v.1-2), offers genuine confession (v.3-4), and clings to the sweet hope of the everlasting Lord (v.5-6).  Can you model that process in your own life?  Do you cry for mercy for your sins?  Do you confess daily to the ways you broke His commands?  Do you rejoice in the everlasting hope that He graciously provides?

The Psalm ends with a shout of rejoicing in hope.  I would change the wording to fit our context today by seeing the church in the light of Israel.  May the church hope in the Lord!  May the church be redeemed!  May the church rise up and cling to the hope that is found in the everlasting joy of our glorious Savior!

-From one who receives unspeakable joy in the hope of God’s everlasting mercy.