Tuesday in Holy Week

There's Hope

Out of the depths I have cried to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If you, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, that you may be feared. Psalm 130:1-4

David is crying to God from the depths of his soul because of his sinful actions. A rewriting of this verse might read, "Out of the depths of my sin I have cried to you." David's heart is weighed down with the "guilty stain" of his sin before a righteous God. It appears that at this momen the might even be more aware of the righteousness of God than even his own sin for he asks the Lord to simply hear his voice.

During David's despair and sorrow, which seems to almost break him, God shows comfort to him. The Lord reveals to David that if he should mark iniquities against guilty people then no one would stand. If God were not patient, gracious with redemption, and full of mercy, we would not stand a chance. There would be no hope. Yet there was hope forDavid and for us. David learned that there is forgiveness with God!

The Lord responded by forgiving David. David cried for God's favor as if he were the publican in the New Testament who cried, "Father, have mercy on me a sinner." It is essential to understand what David was going through because we too are in this depth of sin. We stand before God no more deserving of forgiveness than anyone else. Yet there is ahope for us and all humanity: God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ!

Mason Gentry

Prayer: O Holy God you owe us nothing. You would be completely just in not forgiving us of our crimes against your holiness. Please hear our cry today. God we cannot appease you with sacrifices or with works or else we would do it. But a broken and contrite heart, O Lord, you will not despise. You lift up the humble. You beautify the meek with salvation. So God we ask for your forgiveness of our sins and we pray that you will create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us. Hallelujah Lord, you make all things new! Amen.