PSALM 130

CONSIDER

•• The 15 'Song of Ascents' in the book of Psalm (ch 120-134) are the songs Levite priests would sing as they ascended the 15 steps to the temple in celebration of the feasts  <F60>

• When Jewish people went to Jerusalem for a feast or for some other reason it was said they 'went up to Jerusalem' along Processional or Pilgrimage Road that took them from the lower part off the City of David to the Temple area

• FYI: The Processional Road (or Pilgrimage Road) in Jerusalem was first discovered in the late 19th century by British archaeologists, with a significant section of the ancient Roman-era street excavated and revealed to the public in the 2000s; a major breakthrough occurred in 2004 when a burst pipe led to the discovery of the road's wide stairs, an event that was followed by extensive archaeological excavations in the City of David site  <W2201>

• They took the journey very seriously and kept their focus on the Lord, examining their motives and hearts, looking to the Lord for His mercy

• Jerusalem is on a hill, so to go to Jerusalem, you have to ascend

• Like the Jewish pilgrims of so long ago, Christians need to look to God for mercy  <G73>

• The one who stands amazed at God’s willingness to forgive understands his own sinfulness

• They also understand the extent of God’s ‘unfailing love’ and ‘full redemption’  <R1795>

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** God hears our heart-felt cries for mercy, but how willing are we to adjust to His ways that may differ from our expectations?

Psalm 130:1-2 NIV

[1] Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; [2] Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

** We would not have a ‘leg to stand on’ if left to our record of conduct; thank God He forgives our sin and offers us a way to redemption when we ask this if Him

Psalm 130:3 NIV

[3] If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?

Psalm 130:4,7-8 NIV

[4] But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. [7] Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. [8] He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

** God keeps no record of our sins!  <R1795>

• When we confess, He forgives, and then our sins are gone

• Our past is no longer a weight we must carry with us always

• Our past is gone, and we can look ahead with renewed hope for through forgiveness we have been cleansed!

Psalm 130:3-4 NIV

[3] If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? [4] But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

** There is no forgiveness of even the smallest sin unless it is confessed and repented of; but there is forgiveness of the greatest sin if those divine conditions are met  <M130>

Psalm 86:5 NIV

[5] You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Psalm 130:4 NIV

[4] But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

** Leaning on God often requires waiting, which enables us to mature in our relationship with Him while doing so

Psalm 130:5-6 NIV

[5] I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. [6] I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

** Sin takes our attention off God, and places it on ourselves and things around us.

Grace calls our attention off of everything else to fix it upon God, for grace directs us to:

• Look to the Lord

• Come to the Lord

• Trust in the Lord

• Wait on the Lord

• Hope in the Lord, and even

• Delight in the Lord

"Delight yourself in the Lord." Take delight, not in health, or wealth, or position, or friends, or in anything that is changeable — but in the unchangeable Lord.

Delight yourself in Him, as the:

• Father of the fatherless

• Friend of the friendless

• Hope of the wretched, and

• Savior of the lost

Delight yourself in His glorious character — as gracious, merciful, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.  <S183>

Psalm 130:5-8 NIV

[5] I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. [6] I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. [7] Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. [8] He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Psalm 37:4 NIV

[4] Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 33:20-22 NIV

[20] We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. [21] In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. [22] May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.