Psalm 130

Hope in the Depths

Hope in the Depths

Psalm 130:1-8

• The depths of iniquities

The first thing we observe in this psalm is that the psalmist was in a predicament. His predicament involved being caught up in iniquities. He was caught up in the depths of his iniquities. We see this in verses 1, where he cries out to God out of the depths, and in verses 3, he asks the question: who could stand if the

LORD should mark iniquities. So we see that the psalmist was in the depth of iniquities.

Friends, how often do we find ourselves in a similar situation?

Caught up in the depths of our iniquities? Perhaps often than we would love to admit. The psalmist is vulnerable and open enough to admit that he was in the depth of his iniquities. The context of the Psalm as a song of ascent offers us some insight into the experience of God’s people as they’d pilgrimage to Jerusalem and use the words of this Psalm as a song they’d sing. It would help them articulate the realities of their own souls. How often are our souls laden with iniquities? Covetousness that results in envy and jealousy, discontentment that results in gossip, slander and resentment, lust that results in all manner of sexual perversions in a sexualized culture, and the list could go on and on. Unresolved relational conflicts that have resulted in enmity, fits of anger, and hatred. Whether in marriage or at church or at our workplaces.

Perhaps you may think to yourself, I am not that much of a sinner…I’m I. But think about what the Psalmist asks: “if you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O LORD, who could stand?” Do you stand a chance of standing before God’s judgement throne? None of us stand a chance! If the Lord marks our iniquities, we all would be doomed! Here then, we have our first instruction: to be vulnerable and open before God first and foremost. And agree with him, that we are a people full of iniquities caught up in the depths of our iniquities. This is helpful for us. By way of application, we ought not to assume that we ourselves and others are always okay, The reality is, more often than not, we struggle with sin. We are often caught up in the depth of iniquities and we need help from God and from others.

• The depths of God’s mercy and forgiveness

The second thing we observe in this text is what the Psalmist does: He cries out to God, he cries out to God and pleads for his mercy and relies confidently on what he knows to be true of

God that in Him there is forgiveness. Oh friends, we cannot have a proper apprehension of the mercies of God and of His

forgiveness without a proper apprehension of the depths of our iniquities. John Calvin’s first chapter of the institutes of

Christian religion observes two things that are crucial for all men everywhere, that they have a proper knowledge of God and of man. For us to increasingly appreciate the mercy of God we must first appreciate our need of it! For us to appreciate our need of his mercy, we must first come into terms with the reality of our iniquities! And here the Psalmist helps us! Knowing the depths of his iniquities, he cries out to God and pleads for mercy. God delights to show His people mercy! The depths of his forgiving mercy cosmically and infinitely surpasses the depths of our iniquities! By way of application, the Psalmist helps us understand that it is for this very reason:

that God is merciful and that He forgives us of our iniquities that we ought to fear him. What does it look like to fear God? First, it looks like agreeing with God about our own condition: that we are sinners. Second, it looks like acknowledging the reality that we do not stand a chance of standing before him in our sinfulness. Thirdly, it looks like looking to him for mercy and forgiveness as the Psalmist does. And this leads us to the third observation:

• In the Depths We wait and hope

The Psalmist posture is that of waiting on the Lord and hoping in His word!

Ultimately this is what it looks like to fear God: it is to know that He is our only hope and help. There is no one and nothing in this world or in the world to come that can help us but God alone! The healer of our soul’s malady is God!

And oh friends how is it that God heals us? How is it that God lifts us out of the depths of our iniquities? How does God plunge us into the infinite depth of his forgiving mercy? Here’s how: he redeems us!

Do you see the call to Hope in the Lord in the text? What does the Psalmist say?

Psalm 130:7-8 ESV

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.

Because of God’s steadfast love he shows us his forgiving

mercy by redeeming us from all of our iniquities!

As soon as the Israelites would arrive in Jerusalem they would hasten to the temple gates and buy for themselves a lamb that was without spot nor blemish and present it to the high priest in the temple who would offer it up for the atonement of their sin!

Then they would be pronounced forgiven! As without sin! The pilgrimage would end with a conscience cleansed through the

atoning work of the lamb. But that would be an annual

practice. They would have to wait another whole year before the next pilgrimage to have such an experience! Indeed this was just but a shadow of surer things! Christ came and once and for all accomplished redemption! He is the substance that fulfills what the Psalmist speaks of in verse 8 “and he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities”, he is the fulfillment of the plentiful redemption that is in th LORD. It is in him that we know this plentiful redemption! Prophet Isaiah foretells of this fulfillment: “surely he has borne our griefs and carried our

sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5). Paul reflects on the same reality, Romans 5:6-11 ESV For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For one will scarcely die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die- [8] but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. [10] For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. [11] More than that, we also rejoice in God through our

Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Oh friends, how often them do we ponder on this beautiful reality of redemption that God in Christ has accomplished for us and applied in us?

This calls us those of us who are Christians to continue trusting

in Christ as our only hope. When we are caught up in the

depths of our iniquities, we must not seek to conceal that reality, rather, we must lay bare our hearts before him who is our only hope and help. We must run to him who is our soul’s savior! Christ in whom there is plentiful redemption. This also means that as a community of believers our task ought to be helping one another on a daily basis behold Christ!

How often as we drawn away from Him, how often are we

drawn by the glamor of the world around us and the raging

temptations in our souls, caught up in the depths and almost losing all hope and faith. Are there particular sin struggles that

you have given up the fight on? Have you accepted them as part of you? Have you lost all hope of overcoming them? Are you caught up in bitterness? Resentment? Envy? Some form of sexual immorality?

Here’s your remedy, Christ and the redemption that he offers.

We can help one another overcome sin by pointing one another as often to the fountain of our redemption: Christ.

And perhaps there might be a none believer present this evening. Do you realize that you are a sinner in the depths of your iniquities and do not stand a chance to stand before God? His wrath is coming for you and outside of Christ you will for all eternity drink from the infinite fountain of God’s wrath! The depths of His wrath is infinite! But the good news is that the depth of his forgiving mercy and redemption is equally infinite, and you can be a recipient of his forgiving mercy and redemption today by repenting of your sin and putting your faith in Christ for the salvation of your soul. So come to him.

Oh friend, we have hope in the depths!

In the depths of our iniquities, the depths of God’s steadfast love is made known to us through his forgiving mercy that he extends to us in His work of redemption. Praise be to our God.

Illustration:

CHRISTIAN: "Brother, what shall we do? The life that we now live is miserable. For my part, I do not know what is best—to live like this, or to kill ourselves. The grave seems better to me than living in this dungeon— only to be oppressed by this

Giant!"

HOPEFUL: "Indeed, our present condition is dreadful—and death would be far more welcome to me than to live like this forever! Yet let us consider that the Lord of the country to which we are going has said, 'You shall not murder.' We are

not to take another man's life—much more, then, are we

forbidden to take the Giant's counsel to kill ourselves. Besides, he who kills another, can but commit murder upon his body. But for one to commit suicide, is to kill both body and soul at once! Moreover, my brother, you talk of ease in the grave—but have you forgotten that there is a Hell where all murderers go?

For no murderer has eternal life!

"And let us consider, again, that all circumstances are not in the hand of Giant Despair. Others, so far as I understand, have been captured by him, as well as we—yet they have escaped out of his clutches. Who knows, but that the God who made the world—may cause Giant Despair to die? Or that, at some time or other, he may forget to lock us in? Or that he may have another one of his fits when he is with us, and may lose the use of his limbs? If that ever happens, I am resolved to take

courage, and try my utmost to escape his grasp. I was a fool that I did not try to do it before. However, my brother, let us be patient, and endure for a while. The time may come in which we may be released—but let us not be our own murderers!"

With these words, Hopeful pacified the mind of his brother. So they continued together in their sad and doleful condition.

Now, about midnight, the Pilgrims began to pray—and continued in prayer until almost the break of day. Then Christian, half-bewildered, broke out in this passionate speech: "What a fool I have been, to thus lie in this stinking dungeon— when I could have been free! I have a key called Promise in my bosom—which I am persuaded will open any lock in Doubting Castle!"

Hopeful replied, "That is good news, my brother—pluck it out of your bosom, and try it!"

Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom, and tried to unlock the dungeon door. As he turned the key, the bolt drew back and the door flew open! Christian and Hopeful quickly came out of the dungeon, and went to the outer door which led into the castle-yard. Using his key, Christian was able to open that door also.

Next they went to the iron gate of the castle—which also needed to be unlocked. Though this lock was very difficult to turn—yet the key finally opened it. Then they pushed the gate open to make a quick escape—but the gate, as it opened, made such a creaking, that it awakened Giant

Despair. Hastily rising to pursue his prisoners—the Giant fell into one of his fits, and felt his limbs fail him, so that he was unable to go after them.

Then the Pilgrims found their way back to the King's highway—and so were safe—being out of Giant Despair's jurisdiction.