The title of my weekly article comes from Psalm 130. I saw that this Psalm reflected exactly what I wish the aim of this article to be each week. The ESV Study Bible note expresses it well: "[Psalm 130] is geared toward helping worshippers to see themselves as forgiven people, whose only right to enter God's presence lies in his mercy." I want to serve through my writing to help worshippers see themselves as a forgiven people, in need of the mercy of a loving and gracious God to live and breath. It is my joy to lead others in climbing out of the depths of sin into the mercy of God. I see 4 aims for this weekly article outlined in the Psalm:

 

1. Let us plead for the mercy of God.

 

Verse 2: "Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!"

 

Sinners such as us must plead for the mercy of God - we must plead that it runs freely in our lives, and that it is extended to others. The Lord delights in the work of his mercy giving because it puts the absolute perfection of his nature on display. Confessing our sins to God is a plea for mercy - it is a plea that God would make Christ more precious in our lives, that he would drive out sin, and that he would make a way for solid comfort (healing). A plea for mercy is expressing regret for sin - a holy agony. Let us plea for God's mercy.

 

2. Let us know that we are forgiven by Him whom we should fear.

 

Verses 3-4: "If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared."

 

When we plead for the mercy of God with truly repentant hearts, he gives the mercy we desire. He is "faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22-23). We know, as the Psalmist admits, were the Lord to keep track of our offenses, surely not one could stand. This should create within us a healthy fear - a reverence for the Lord as we seek forgiveness from the only perfect and holy One (Deuteronomy 5:29; 1 Peter 1:17). This not only creates a healthy fear, but also gratefulness, because we know that the punishment for our iniquities has been laid on Christ. God can promise forgiveness because of Jesus, when we humbly come before him in faith (Psalm 86:5; Psalm 103:3; Nehemiah 9:17; Daniel 9:9). Mercy is freeing, as we are assured of our forgiveness by a merciful God.

 

3. Let us wait with hope in the Lord.

 

Verses 5-6: "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."

 

What are we waiting for? We are waiting, with great anticipation, for God's salvation! Certainly the Christian can be assured that they have received the salvation of the Lord, yet we are still awaiting the ultimate salvation from our sinful bodies, minds, and hearts in a fallen world. We wait for our glorification (Romans 8:30). We wait with hope - assurance - knowing that one day, our Lord shall return. Like watchmen in the morning, we stay attentive, knowing that the day will come. We hope in the promises of God - every one of which he will fulfill.

 

4. Let us be redeemed.

 

Verses 7-8: "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."

 

The steadfast love and redemption of the Lord are unmerited favors, which God freely and sovereignly gives to His children. Let us pray that God would rescue (redeem) us from the plagues of sin in our lives and the penalties that we deserve. Be assured, Christian, of your redemption because of the blood of Christ who died to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Matthew Henry calls God's redemption plenteous redemption: "The riches of this redemption; it is plenteous redemption; there is an all-sufficient fullness of merit and grace in the Redeemer, enough for all, enough for each; enough for me, says the believer. Redemption from sin includes redemption from all other evils, and therefore is a plenteous redemption."[1] What a beautiful description from a beautiful work of God. God's mercy and redemption are plenteous - let us be redeemed!

My prayer for these weekly articles is that we would be stirred to plead for the mercy of God, contented in the forgiveness of God whom we fear, filled with hope as we await our glorification in Christ, and assured of the plenteous redemption of God.

Stirred, contented, filled, and assured out of the depths of sin, and into the great mercy and grace of God. Amen.