Psalm 130

The Lord has provided help for the pilgrim in the face of lifelong afflictions, those trials often brought about by people or situations over which we have no control.  But what if our trial is of our own making?  Can we expect help?  That is the subject of Psalm 130.  The pilgrim faces a deep trial made worse by guilt.

The intensity of the situation is seen in the word depths in v1. It is deep sorrow from loss of friends or property, or bodily suffering.  It may involve low spirits, darkness of mind, loss of comfort, or disappointment.  It is Bunyon's slough of despond in Pilgrim's Progress.  The Old Testament uses the word to refer to the Red Sea, a deep place through which God made a way for Israel.

It is apparent that the problem, whatever it was, was related to guilt experienced by the Psalmist.  Apparently guilt was brought on by some particular sin that made him cry out to God.  Before dealing with the deep trial, it is necessary to have an answer for guilt.  Without that, we will be hindered in our willingness to cry for help.  Without that answer, the Creator will not hear us (Ps. 66:18).

A.            The Pilgrim's provision for guilt, v3-4.

Is guilt real or is it only a feeling?  The view of the Bible is that guilt is real and that the guilty feeling is the result of a conscience doing it's proper work.  The conscience is the Law of God written in the heart of every person (Rom. 2:12-16).  This conscience confirms our actions as either right or wrong in the eyes of the One before Whom we will appear in judgment.  Thus the conscience serves a valuable purpose by making us feel guilty when our words, attitudes or actions will not stand up against ultimate judgment.  The point is that those feelings tell us we have violated the Law of God and that we need to deal with our sin.

The Psalmist tells us what the provision is: it is forgiveness.  Forgiveness has the root idea of pardon.  As the context says, it indicates that the Lord no longer keeps track of our sin.  In pardon He declares that the guilt is no longer being taken into account.  This forgiveness enables us to have a standing when we cry out to God (v3).  It actually encourages us to reverence God (v.4).

We must acknowledge that our trials are often created or intensified by our own sinful choices.  We must bring an end to our tendency to blame others or to deny the reality of guilt. Only then will the way be open for God's solution to our deep trials.

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We are thinking about deep trials created or intensified by our sinful choices.  Forgiveness has been provided.  Let us consider...

A.            The Pilgrim's plan for deep trials, v5-6.

The plan is wrapped up in one word: wait.  This is not a very popular piece of advice.  This is not the wait of laziness or disobedience.  This is the wait of someone who has no other dependence.  Remember when the children of Israel were backed up to the Red Sea in Ex. 14.  They were no match for the Egyptian army; they could not get across the sea.  God's word was: stand still and see what I will do for you.  In other words: wait.  How can the pilgrim wait?  Perhaps it helps to remember the following:

The object of the waiting: wait for the Lord.

The pilgrim waits for the Lord, Creator of heaven and earth.

The subject of the waiting: my soul waits.

Deep trials require deep faith.  It's not a surface waiting but the wait that sees the release of our inner burdens.  It is not wait and worry but rather the wait for God to work.

The nature of the waiting: hope in His word.

The Word speaks of our God and His faithful provision in time past.  By the word the soul is encouraged to wait.

The intensity of the waiting: as the watchman.

The enemy is out there.  Darkness seems to give him an advantage so our heart hopes for morning.  Remember the ultimate morning which is the dawn of the return of Christ.  Sometimes our trial stays with us until this life ends but the pilgrim knows that his enemies cannot touch him in the life to come.

B.            The Pilgrim's platform, v7-8.

How can we be assured of forgiveness?  How can we be assured of the coming morning?  Assurance is based in God's mercy and work of redemption.  Mercy is God's compassion that sees our deep need and is moved to meet that need.  God is righteous; but it is equally true and wonderful that He is merciful. 

Redemption speaks of God's provision for guilt.  It tells us that God himself has come to earth, in the person of Jesus Christ, to pay the price for our sin and guilt.  The forgiveness for our guilt (v3-4) is truly provided by God Himself through the death of Christ on the cross.  There He took our sin and satisfied God's just demand by His blood.  Thus we see that God can forgive our sin because the guilt has been taken into account. 

To wait on a God like that makes perfect sense.