Midweek Lenten 4 -- (2024)

Psalm 129-131

My Brothers and Sisters we continue the Psalms of Ascent this night as we draw closer to Jerusalem, and ascend the steps of God’s holy temple. These psalms once again connect us with Christ, and all that He has done for our sake. Tonight we get some connections with the sufferings of Jesus as He prepares to go to Golgotha for us. Followed by the pleas and hopes of all of those who find themselves in the depths of despair awaiting the Lord to hear our cries for mercy and to forgive our sins.

So let us look first at Psalm 129, our Lord’s trials began not just in Holy week, but shortly after his birth, you have Herod seeking His life and trying to destroy He was born King of the Jews. The Religious leaders who were to know the Word of God, and cherish the word of God, and despised Jesus who is the Word that tabernacled amongst us. The cherished not the steadfast love and mercy of God, but instead added the traditions of man and changed the Word of God.

Now the passages that speak of the plowers and furrows brings to mind Christ’s suffering at the hands of the Romans. How they painfully afflicted Him while He was under the care of Pontius Pilate scourging him and leaving Him bloody and beaten. Jesus’ suffering and anguish was great and He paid dearly for it.

They bound Jesus in the strong chains of death and lowered him into the ground hoping that they would finally be free of his teaching. But the Father in Heaven did not let those chains remain wrapped around His Son. Those who sought to profit by Jesus death find that there was nothing to reap, but end up like the grass upon the housetop, it has no root, and it withers away quickly.

All of those who had brought themselves together against Jesus, and against His Kingdom were brought to nothing. The Blessings of God did not fall upon them, but rather they fall upon those for whom the blood of Christ was shed. That is why we are able to rejoice in Christ’s victory. For He has borne these sufferings for us, and we now bear the name of the Lord. Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we know that the world does not receive us as it did not receive your Son. Grant to us patience in our faith, and cling to the clear cause of Jesus who for our sake bore great suffering at the hands of wicked men, in order to bless us by Your holy name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Let us look at Psalm 130, this ties together well with the previous psalm for when we consider the Cross of Jesus and see the terrible cost that Christ pays. How can we not be moved to cry out for mercy. For if this is what happened to the only-begotten Son of God when your sins fell upon Him, then what would have happened to you? So out of the depths we cry to the Lord to show us mercy, to not deal with us according to our Sins. For if this is what sin looks upon the head of the beloved Son of God, then how will God deal with us who were born sinners and are by nature sinful and unclean and hostile to God since birth.

We come before Him asking, and pleading for mercy. For if the Lord should count all of our sins, not a one of us would be able to stand in his presence. We would merit eternal death and condemnation. Since there is forgiveness with Him, there is that measure of fear and awe. For He holds our eternal life in His hands, and if it were not for His steadfast love and mercy shown forth in Christ, each and every one of us would be cast into the depths of hell.

But it isn’t just us that cries out, Christ lifts up his voice and cries to the father, for He joined us in our humanity, and took upon himself our sins and our failings that he might cry out on our behalf. He pleads Father forgive them for they know not what they do. So Jesus will bear the full load of sin upon himself in order that we might be spared and have a place in God’s Kingdom. Who else had the strength to bear the weight of sin, none but Jesus Christ our Lord.

We waited for that glorious morning, when Christ rose again, and assured us that He had done what we could not. Jesus redeemed God’s people from all their sins. What we now receive is the steadfast love of God, for what Christ did for us on the Cross.

Dear Heavenly Father, if you should mark iniquities who could stand in your presence. We give thanks that you sent your Son to plead on our behalf, and that out of love for Him that you showed us mercy. As we are in the season of Lent, we await that morning when Christ rises on Easter Sunday, and we may sing His praises. In Jesus name. Amen.

Psalm 131 this Psalm opens with words of Humility for the great and mighty works that have been accomplished were not by our powers or abilities, but were the works of God himself. This is why the heart is not lifted up, and the eyes are not raised too high. But rather we receive from the Lord all that has been accomplished by Christ, and receive it gladly.

The world urges us to exalt ourselves and praise ourselves and lift ourselves up in the eyes of all. However, we know from the Scriptures that the one who deserves praise and recognition is He who sits behind all things. For it is the Lord that numbers our days, it is the Lord who watches over the city, and it is the Lord who has brought us out of our slavery to sin. We did not free ourselves, but were recipients of God’s mercy for the sake of Christ. This is why we do not boast like the world, for what do we have that has not been given to us by God?

Verse two compares it with a child who has been weaned. A child that has learned to be content to just be in their presence of their parent. It is there that they have comfort and peace of knowing that since they have their parent, everything will be ok. So our soul has learned to be calm and quieted when we are in the presence of the Lord. For even when hardships and difficulties arise, He is not far from us. Even if it feels like the Lord is not with us, we have something more precious than our feelings. We have God’s Word. We know God’s promises and the love He has for us, and that He will keep us safe. This is the childlike faith and humility that is to cling to Jesus Christ our Lord. That is why we will hope in him from this time forth, and forevermore.

Let us pray, Dear heavenly Father, we thank you for all the gifts that you have graciously given to us. Keep us from sinful pride that would lead us into the false belief that we have done great and mighty things that are worthy of praise. For you are the one who has given us life and breath and watches over all creation. Rather nurture us by your Word that a childlike faith may remain in our hearts all our days, and that we might learn to trust in goodness and your providence. In Jesus name. Amen.