PSALM 130-PART ONE

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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Psalm 130 is a fantastic example of how the Lord has consistently related to his creation from a position of grace. The Lord has never conditioned his gift of love upon the efforts and abilities of his people. 

In the following passage, the Holy Spirit, working through the Psalmist, provides us with a clear example of God’s grace and invites us to respond by placing our faith and trust in the Lord. 

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD; 2 Lord, hear my voice. 

Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 

3 If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. 

5 I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. 

7 Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. 8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

(Psalms 130:1-8 NIV11)

Our Need

The Psalm opens with an admission of our need for the mercy of God. 

From the depths of despair, from the depths of inadequacy to stand before the Lord, the Psalmist cries out for the Lord. He cries out for God to provide mercy in his hour of need. 

This is important for you and me to recognize. Until we see our need for the Lord’s mercy and grace, we will not be able to receive what the Lord provides. 

Jesus’ Reply

This reminds me of the response that Jesus Christ gave to those who questioned his motives for associating with known sinners and screw-ups. Jesus spoke the following truth to his inquisitors:

31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

(Luke 5:31-32 NIV11)

If we do not see our need for the healing offered by the work of the cross, we will not be willing to receive the gift of forgiveness of sin. If we do not see that we need the work of the Savior, we will not be willing to entrust our souls to his care. 

Before we can receive the gift of freedom, we must admit that we are trapped in the chains of sin and shame and in need of the gift of mercy. 

No Not One

In this short statement, we hear the precursor to Paul’s message in Romans 3:21-24 which echoes the truth that no one is able to stand in their own goodness and perfection before the Lord. We must see that we do not possess what it takes to build a right relationship with the Lord. 

Forgiveness

As we accept the depth of our inability to earn our own righteousness, we ready ourselves for the next truth which is truly lifegiving:

4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. 

(Psalm 130:4 NIV11)

Let’s recap what we have said so far:

•  We must accept the depth of our need for the Lord’s mercy. 
•  We must embrace God’s mercy as it truly is… a gift. 
•  We must own our mess and admit our need for a savior. 
•  And we must embrace the gift of God’s complete forgiveness. 

Service

If we are able to receive this gift of forgiveness, then we will be able to serve the Lord. But make no mistake, we cannot serve the Lord until we embrace his forgiveness. 

Forgiveness comes before service. 

Once we understand our need, after we cry out for God’s intervention, and following our embrace of God’s forgiveness by faith, then and only then are we able to serve the Lord. 

Not Earn

We cannot get this out of order or else we will do serious damage to ourselves and to others. We do not earn the forgiveness of God by performing acts of service in his name. No. We respond to his gift of forgiveness by choosing to willingly serve him for no other reason than we desire to express our love and appreciation for his love and mercy. 

There will be more from this psalm of grace in our next devotional. Stay tuned. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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