Series Introduction: 

On this fifth Sunday of Lent, we come together to continue our journey through the Psalms. Our focus this morning is on Psalm 130, which reminds us that God's mercy and forgiveness are available to us in our darkest moments. As Christians, we can find true freedom from sin and despair by turning to Christ's redemption. May this Lenten season bring transformation to our relationship with God, and may we find hope and encouragement in the words of Psalm 130.

Scripture Reading:  

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. (Psalm 130, ESV)

Opening Prayer: 

Father God, we acknowledge our transgressions and ask for Your mercy and forgiveness. Help us to understand Your love and redemption through Jesus Christ. May this time of reflection bring us closer to You and transform us into bearers of Your light and love. Amen.

Lament And Despair

Psalm 130 is a powerful reminder of our need for God’s grace. It begins with the heartfelt plea:  

"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!" (Psalm 130:1-2, ESV). 

The "depths" mentioned here do not refer to a physical depth; instead, they represent the unfathomable spiritual distance created by sin, blocking our access to the warmth of God's light and love. They are a metaphor for the darkest night of the soul, where grief and guilt consume us, leaving us longing for a glimmer of hope. 

These times of darkness and sorrow are an inescapable part of the human experience in this sinful and fallen world. King Solomon, renowned for his wisdom, described our lives as being made up of "time[s] to weep, and time[s] to laugh; time[s] to mourn, and time[s] to dance." (Ecclesiastes 3:4, ESV). 

The scriptures are full of narratives illustrating what it means to hold to faith amid despair. 

Upon hearing of Jerusalem's desolation, Nehemiah sat down and wept, mourning for days and fasting before God: 

"As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven." (Nehemiah 1:4, ESV). 

And yet, it was during this valley of depression and lament that Nehemiah found the strength to rise and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. 

Likewise, Job's narrative is perhaps the most striking portrayal of human suffering and the struggle to find meaning amid suffering and loss. Yet, God’s Word records this response of Job to his overwhelming tragedies: 

"Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. Moreover, he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.'" (Job 1:20-21, ESV)

Even in the pit of despair, Job found the faith required to worship God despite his sorrows. 

Even Elijah, a mighty prophet of the Lord, experienced profound despair. After confronting the prophets of Baal and fearing for his own life, Elijah fled into the wilderness. There, all alone, he prayed that he might die (19:4). Elijah had just seen God accomplish a great miracle at his hand, which sparked a revival among the people. However, alone and afraid, Elijah could not take it anymore.

Life is full of highs and lows, and like in a mountain range, the lows often come right after the highs. We may scale the heights of spiritual victory only to soon find ourselves in the dark valley of depression. Faith helps us keep our perspective and reminds us not to be surprised by the valleys. Like Elijah, in moments of despair, we should listen to God's "still small voice" (19:12) to comfort us. 

What do all of these dark accounts of mourning, anguish, and despair have in common? These accounts, along with Psalm 130, all have one thing in common: a moment of sincere turning to God. This illustrates the truth revealed in Hebrews 4:16, 

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16, ESV). 

These accounts teach us that we can experience God's nearness and comfort in every season of mourning and that our cries of anguish are not signs of faithlessness but are, instead, a time for deepening our relationship with God. 

During the Lenten season, we are reminded of a person who faced greater sorrow than we ever will - Jesus Christ. We are taken back to the Garden of Gethsemane, where, amidst the ancient olive trees with the cross before him, Jesus prayed; 

“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39, ESV). 

This moment was a powerful declaration of Jesus' willingness to accept the Father's will, even in the face of immense agony. Not only was His pain physical and emotional, but He also bore the unimaginable weight of humanity's sins. Yet, by venturing into the deepest valleys of despair and emerging victorious, He offers us hope that no shadow within us is too deep for God's transforming grace.

As we learn to pray wholeheartedly, "not as I will, but as you will" (Matthew 26:39), we can follow in Christ’s footsteps, surrendering our deepest fears and highest aspirations to the God who triumphs over all. As we learn to follow our Savior through our own periods of loss and suffering, may our lives reflect the light of His love, leading us from the shadows of Gethsemane to the glory of the Resurrection.

If God Should Mark Iniquities, Who Could Stand? 

In Psalm 130, the psalmist continues: 

“If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.” (Psalm 130:3-4, ESV)

These verses confront us with the reality of our condition before a holy God. They lay bare the truth that if God counted our sins against us, no one could stand blameless before Him. Yet, in the same breath, they offer a profound hope—the assurance of forgiveness that invites us not to fear in trembling but to revere in gratitude.

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation about faith with someone and wondered if they truly understand the gospel? It happens to me quite often. That's when I ask my go-to question, "If you met God today, and He asked you why He should let you into Heaven, what would you say?" 

Interestingly, I have yet to meet a single person who thinks that if Heaven exists, they are not getting in. Most people I've asked believe that they will be granted access to Heaven because they are inherently good. But here's the thing—we often overlook the seriousness of our sins and exaggerate our righteousness. It's important to remember that the gospel is not about being good enough but about recognizing our need for a Savior.

When I get the “I’m a good person” answer to my question, I pose the following hypothetical situation to them. Imagine for a moment that a film exists. This isn't just any film; it's a comprehensive, unedited recording of your entire life. Every thought that has ever crossed your mind, every word that has slipped from your lips, every action you've taken, and every deed you've chosen not to do—all captured in vivid detail. This film includes not just the moments of triumph and kindness but also every instance of failure, every unkind word, and every selfish thought. This film also includes every time when you could have done something loving, kind, generous, or selfless but chose not to. 

Now, consider this: Would you be willing to have this film broadcasted for the world to see? Would you feel comfortable sitting in a theater filled with everyone you've ever known—family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers—as the reel plays out every moment of your life?

For all of us, the answer would be a resounding no. There are thoughts we've thought and things we've done that we're not proud of. Moments of pettiness, episodes of anger, and instances of judgment. If we were too ashamed to show this uncensored film to our fellow sinners, what would make us feel confident that we could present it to a Holy God and say, “Watch this and see that I have earned eternal life in paradise?” 

The purpose of this illustration isn't to shame or to foster a sense of hopelessness but to highlight the incredible depth of God's grace and love. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24, ESV). 

God's love for us isn't based on our ability to be "good enough" or on a highlight reel of our best moments. His love is unconditional, covering every scene of our lives, including those we wouldn't want anyone else to see. Through Jesus, we are offered forgiveness and a fresh start, a chance to have the slate of our sins wiped clean.

The Scriptures assure us that God does not keep a tally of our sins. Were He to do so, none could stand before Him. Instead, we find in Hebrews a declaration of God's merciful love: 

“Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more” (Hebrews 10:17, ESV).

This is not because God overlooks sin but because He chose to address it through the most profound act of love and grace—the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus bore our sins upon the cross, offering us reconciliation with God and freeing us from the chains of guilt and shame. 

This divine grace invites us to live transformed lives, not to earn God’s love but in response to the love we’ve already been given. It’s a call to strive for goodness, not to secure a place in God’s favor but out of gratitude for the favor we've already received, fully knowing that when we stumble, God's grace is sufficient to pick us up again.

Earlier, we read Hebrews 4:16, but let’s now re-read it in context to get the full picture: 

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16, ESV) 

As believers, we are blessed with the opportunity to approach the throne of grace in times of need because we have a savior who went before us, took on our guilt and shame, and triumphed over sin and death. Just as Christ had faith in His Heavenly Father and emerged victorious over death through obedience and submission to His will, we, too, are called to look up to God and trust in His mercy and power to redeem us. Even in our darkest moments, we must remember that we are never forsaken.

Throughout the Lenten season, we are reminded of the affliction and guilt that result from our sins, and how they can bring us to our knees. But we must not surrender to despair, no matter how low we may feel. We must humbly acknowledge that we cannot stand before God on our own merits. Our only hope lies in the God who forgives sin through the redemptive work of Christ. We place our entire hope in Him, recognizing the full weight of our sins and the limitless magnitude of God's salvation.

Waiting in Hope

With this truth in mind, we turn to the heart of Psalm 130, verses 5-6, where we find a compelling call to wait on the Lord:

 "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." (Psalm 130:5-6, ESV)

This isn't just poetry; it's a battle cry for the faithful, urging us to embrace a posture of expectancy and hope, especially during Lent. Scripture doesn't merely suggest we wait; it commands it, revealing that true strength and courage are found in the discipline of patience.

Take Hosea 12:6, which challenges us, "But you must return to your God; maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always." It is a reminder that waiting on God isn't optional—Patience is as essential to our faith as acts of love and justice. Similarly, Psalm 27:14 doesn't mince words: 

"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." (Psalm 27:14, ESV)

Here, the psalmist links waiting with strength and courage, dismantling any notion that waiting is passive or weak.

Isaiah 30:18 reveals the reward for our patience: 

"Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you... blessed are all those who wait for him." (Isaiah 30:18, ESV). 

This isn't a blind waiting; it's an active, hopeful waiting that expects God's grace and mercy. Our waiting is grounded in God's faithfulness. 

Scripture is clear: waiting on the Lord isn't idle time. It is a time of spiritual growth. Waiting on the Lord cultivates expectancy, hope, trust, and patience. These aren't just virtues; they're the very fabric of a faith-filled life. 

In the midst of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, a remarkable story is told about the prophet Jeremiah. God asked him to buy a piece of land, even though Judah was about to be conquered and its people taken into exile (Jeremiah 32:6–15). It is not a particularly exciting passage unless you consider the acquisition of land deeds to be a thrilling read. This detour into land purchases may even seem pointless or foolish. Still, this land deed provided hope during the long years of captivity. Jeremiah's purchase of the land was a reminder that, according to God's promises, the people would be set free and return to the land in seventy years to rebuild their homes and vineyards. This often-overlooked passage is an excellent example for us today. It reminds us that even if God's promises have not yet come to pass, we must learn to live as if they are as firm as the ground we walk on and as sure as the fact that the sun will rise tomorrow because they are that true and that assured.

During Lent, I am reminded of how, in the shadow of Jesus' crucifixion, the disciples found themselves in a pit of despair and confusion. They had been told by Jesus that He would rise again, and yet they lacked the faith to live in that truth until they saw him again face to face. 

Maybe in our waiting, we have the faith of Jeremiah, or perhaps we are like the disciples on the day between the cross and the resurrection, almost too afraid to hope. Maybe we need some Jeremiah’s to come alongside the doubting Thomases and petrified Peters among us and remind them of the words of the prophet Isaiah: 

"They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles." (Isaiah 40:31, ESV). 

Unfailing Love and Redemption

As we bring this Psalm to a close, we read these comforting words:  

"O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities." (Psalm 130:7-8, ESV). 

During the season of Lent, it's important to hold onto the promise of God's unchanging love and boundless redemption through Jesus Christ. It's amazing to think that God Himself chose to suffer and die for us out of His relentless love. This love is always present, even in our darkest moments, and offers us forgiveness and a new beginning, regardless of the depths of our failures.

The resurrection of Christ is not merely an event in history; it is the unshakeable foundation of our faith. It assures us that no sin is too great and no obstacle is too formidable. Through Christ’s resurrection, we witness death itself defeated, promising us a new and eternal life that is certain and unwavering.

The redemption we speak of is not just a theological concept but an indisputable reality. Christ took our place, paid the price for our sins, and made us right with God. It is not just hope but an irrefutable guarantee—a promise as sure as the dawn.

God's mercy is boundless, and His redemption is limitless. When we turn back to Him with complete sincerity, we are met with open arms. Our repentance is met with immediate and complete forgiveness. It is God's own spirit drawing us back, freeing us from the grip of sin.

The redemption in Christ Jesus is the great means by which God saves the guilty sinner. Christ paid the ransom to satisfy God's justice, so sinners need not suffer for their sins. Christ suffered and died in the place of sinners.

Faith must focus its hope on Jesus Christ, the only mediator between God and humanity. He gave Himself as "a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:5-6). This Lent, let us embrace this hope with all our might. Let Christ's sacrifice and victory over death shape us, move us towards repentance, and inspire a profound gratitude that transforms our lives. As we reflect on the magnitude of God's mercy and redemption, let it fuel our commitment to walk in His light, anticipating the life He promises in Christ with unshakable confidence.

Conclusion

As we draw our sermon to a close, let this be our heartfelt response today: to approach God with transparency, admit our need for His grace, and hold onto the promise that with Him, there is plentiful redemption. As we leave here, let's carry with us a renewed hope in the Lord, allowing this hope to transform our lives. Let us commit to walking in His light, inspired by the sacrifice and victory of Christ, and let our lives be a testament to the transformation that comes from living in the truth of God's mercy and love.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the hope and forgiveness that we find in Your Word. We are grateful for the victory over sin and death that was made possible through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we move forward, guide us and help us to live as reflections of Your love, embodying the transformative power of Your grace and extending Your mercy and forgiveness to others. May our lives bear witness to the hope that is found only in Christ. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Dismissal:

“May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us. May the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us. May thy Salvation, O Lord, be always ours this day and for evermore.” - St Patrick