Misc. - "But there is Forgiveness..." - Psalm 130

“But there is forgiveness”

Tonight we are going to be in Psalm 130. So, if you have your copy of God’s Word i want to invite you to turn there with me, as we preach on this subject: “But There is Forgiveness”

As we’ve heard this summer, the book of Psalms is a collection of Hebrew songs that would often be sung in congregations - it’s like their hymn book - or either used during devotional times.

Actually, if you ask me, Pastor Chad, you can just continue in this series, because these messages have been awesome. “Winter Solstice in the Wonderful Psalms?”

I think that would be phenomenal!

Recently, I had a traumatic thing happen to me. You guys know how there are some preachers that can just flat sing?

I don’t have that gift.

So, most of the time, before I preach you will watch me check the microphone pack.

At the Beach Camp, our students asked me to sing them a song. So.... i did what any red-blooded American would do, and I wrote a parody to the Legendary John Denver’s “Take me home, Country Roads.” - It was a lovely ballad.

In my limited song writing abilities, I did find that a good song has to have a “hook.”

hook is simply the part of the song that catches the ear of the listener. ... It's a lyrical line or melodic phrase that makes the song memorable and stand out.

The Psalm we are going to read about tonight has a hook.

The hook can allow us to appreciate this beautiful psalm.

But in order to appreciate this psalm, we have to:

Sometimes worship music can

See that your sinfulness, in light of God’s holiness, was met by God’s graciousness.

Psalm 130 KJV 1900

A Song of degrees. 1 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. 2 Lord, hear my voice: Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. 3 If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared. 5 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, And in his word do I hope. 6 My soul waiteth for the Lord More than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. 7 Let Israel hope in the Lord: For with the Lord there is mercy, And with him is plenteous redemption. 8 And he shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities.

Tonight we are looking at a group of psalms (Psalm 120-134) that is often known as the Songs of Ascent.

They would typically be sung during the Feast of Tabernacles but were also sung during pilgrimages to Jerusalem. Hebrew people would go to Jerusalem, dwell in booths (or coverings made by trees… they did this because of the “cover over”) that week to remember the wilderness.

This particular Psalm was written after the Hebrews got out of exile.

These Hebrews would have a playlist of psalms to sing as they approached Jerusalem for these festivals.

This is a freebee, but they came to worship prepared.

The

Open with the importance of worship music.

These jews would sing this psalm.

1. The Appeal to God

Psalm 130:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. 2 Lord, hear my voice: Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. 3 If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

a. Place

“Out of the depths...”

idea of the sea. the Sea or ocean was usually a picture of chaos to the Israelites.

Chaos and danger. This is probably a figurative expression for guilty feelings or some sort of literal imprisonment.

b. Person

“… above the roar of the billows rose the cry of faith. It little matters where we are if we can pray; but prayer is never more real and acceptable than when it rises out of the worst places. Deep places beget deep devotion.” - Charles Spurgeon

‘i cried unto thee...”

Who?

Yahweh.

Adonai - The King, Ruler, Sovereign One.

“hear my voice...”

“It is better for our prayer to be heard than answered.” - Spurgeon

Don’t misunderstand me, the writer was asking for help out! But before any of the prayer for help out, his request was “Hear my voice!”

c. Prayer

“Hear my voice...”

Back in 2007, a mine in Utah collapsed and rescue workers urgently got in place to try to help the victims.

After an earthquake hit, many lives were lost.

One of the first thing rescue workers did was bring out a microphone to find out if they could hear sounds.

I want you to understand something here… not matter how deep the chaos. No matter how loud the distress around you is, our God always hears the prayer of a repentant person.

When the Pharisees shouted humilitations at Jesus, and the earth was in the throws of peril. Whose voice did Jesus hear?

The repentant criminal.

He hears you! Call out to Him!

2. The Answer from God

Appreciate this psalm.

Your sinfulness, in light of God’s holiness, met by God’s graciousness will allow you to appreciate this.

Psalm 130:3–4 KJV 1900

3 If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared.

How can we really appreciate this Psalm?

a. Sinfulness

Psalm 130:3 KJV 1900

3 If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

Your sinfulness in light of God’s holiness...

“Here he owns that he cannot stand before the great King in his own righteousness, and he is so struck with a sense of holiness of God, and the rectitude of the law that he is convinced that no man of mortal race can answer for himself before a Judge so perfect, concerning a law so divine.” - Charles Spurgeon

b. Holiness

c. Graciousness

Psalm 130:4 KJV 1900

4 But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared.

Forgiveness here is to pardon. To redeem.

Our forgiveness is we can still be friends, but you have to pay for something.

Invite you over to watch a big game.

You’re a gamecock fan and y’all lose and you lose your temper and throw a shoe at the TV

I wonder if the guys on the way to jerusalem from Emmaus sang this on the way in. And then it had a whole new meaning when they came out?

d. Fearfulness

“Lord you offer forgiveness that we might learn to fear you!”

3. The Appreciation

Psalm 130:5–8 KJV 1900

5 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, And in his word do I hope. 6 My soul waiteth for the Lord More than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. 7 Let Israel hope in the Lord: For with the Lord there is mercy, And with him is plenteous redemption. 8 And he shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities.