Sermons

The Believer In Distress (Psalm 130:1-8)

Rev. Dr. Sid Dyer, March 27, 2022
Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service

This is known as one of the Pauline Psalms. The writer is in a deep and dangerous place, in deep distress. This is a model for us in trials. Vss. 1 and 2 are a cry of anguish, beseeching the very near God to hear the Psalmist's supplication. The verb tense implies persistence; the writer "has been crying," stretching from past to present. Believers tend to be most earnest in supplication when in the midst of tribulation. Monica's prayer for her dissolute son, Augustine, while he sailed for Rome from Carthage was such. The Lord answered the worries that lay behind Monica's prayer. While in Rome, Augustine was led to the Lord by the witness of Ambrose. Afflictions tend to make us more powerful servants. Vss. 3 and 4 comprise a confession in distress. God deals with us by grace, not by merit. If we cry, "Why me?", we need to check our attitude. Forgiveness means more than mere pardon; it contains propitiation, or the quelling of the righteous wrath of God. Fear of God means extreme reverence for Him; we must not have any flippant view of God, or of sin or forgiveness. When we know of our forgiveness, we recognize that we can then worship properly. Vss. 6 and 7 show that the writer is waiting in confidence. God is never in a rush for reconciliation with we poor sinners. Our confessions are not necessarily while we are in the depth, and certainly not based on our feelings. The writer has confidence in God's word, on His eternal promises. He is waiting in earnest. The watchman is on alert for approaching danger in the night, anticipating release in the morning. We can face danger because the Lord is in control. Vss. 7 and 8 assure us that we can hope in the Lord, waiting for release by means of His promises of encouragement, even when we are in distress. With Him is unfailing mercy and abundant redemption. He shows the fullness of mercy to all His people, setting us free from the consequences of sin.

Tags: Distress, Forgiveness, Hope, Propitiation, Tribulation

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Psalm 130 (Listen)

A Song of Ascents.

130:1   Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
    O Lord, hear my voice!
  Let your ears be attentive
    to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
  If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
    O Lord, who could stand?
  But with you there is forgiveness,
    that you may be feared.
  I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
    and in his word I hope;
  my soul waits for the Lord
    more than watchmen for the morning,
    more than watchmen for the morning.
  O Israel, hope in the LORD!
    For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
    and with him is plentiful redemption.
  And he will redeem Israel
    from all his iniquities.

(ESV)

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