PSALM 130

TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2007


PLEAD BELIEVING - WAIT WITH FAITH


1 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; 2 Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. 3 If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord, More than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. 8 And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities. Psalm 130 (NKJV)

At the majority of Funeral Services that I have conducted, this Psalm has been included. When death takes a loved one from us, the pains, the sorrows, and the hurts are deep. People surround us with loving thoughts, words, and deeds of comfort, but the hurt is still there. "O God, help me," you pray.


It is not only death, but many other circumstances of life, that cause us to fall to our knees in helplessness and pray, "O God, help me."


The Psalmist pleads with God, believing that God will hear him. If the Psalmist did not have a strong belief that God would hear him, there would be no reason to pray. He prays listen to me; hear why I am crying out for help. I am a sinner, but Lord, if you hold that against me, no one can come to you. I know you will have mercy on me.


Having made his pleas, the Psalmist waits with faith and hope because he knows and believes that the Lord has mercy and will redeem him from all of his sins. The Psalmist is confident and in that confidence his fears lessen, and the deep pain and sorrow slowly can ebb away.


As you meditate on this Psalm, it is important to remember that Jesus had not yet been born of Mary, had not been Crucified, and had not ascended into Heaven with a promise to return. The Psalmist only had the Promise of Redemption as God had spoken through the Prophets.


PRAY BELIEVING AND WAIT WITH FAITH


WE PRAY: Send your Holy Spirit to lead me to know how very much you Love me. Help me to grow in my prayer life that I will eagerly turn to you many times each day as I make decisions. Lord, help me to be patient while I await your response. AMEN


A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION

 

Select one event from your life that occurs at least five days a week. Take a notepad or 3X5 card and write a brief prayer asking God to be with you during that event. Take the card with you so that when it is time for that event you will be able to pray the prayer that you have written. You may want to change it a little as you continue. When the words of the prayer flow from your heart rather than the card, then repeat the process for another daily event.