O Lord, out of the depths I call to you.
O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be open to my pleas for mercy.
O Lord, who would be able to stand if you kept a record of sins?
But with you there is forgiveness so that you can be feared. [vss 1-4]
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and with hope I wait for his word.
My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.
O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, because with the Lord there is mercy and with him there is unlimited forgiveness.
He will rescue Israel from all its sins. [vss 5-8]
A song for going up to worship. (Psalms 130:1-8 GW)
O Lord, my heart is not conceited. My eyes do not look down on others.
I am not involved in things too big or too difficult for me.
Instead, I have kept my soul calm and quiet.
My soul is content as a weaned child is content in its mother’s arms.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord now and forever. [vss 1-3]
A song for going up to worship. (Psalms 131:1-3 GW)
People have sought peace of mind and contentment of soul since the beginning of humanity. Various religions, philosophies, and psychologies claim to offer ways of finding contentment and peace, yet the pursuit continues.
This pursuit intensifies during times of personal crises and in the midst of external conflicts and tension. But there's no prescription anyone can offer that measures up to what God offers.
When I was a young pastor, I was asked to pray for a woman with a mysterious lingering illness. Her husband brought her to several doctors and she took many tests but no cause was found for her sickness.
I brought a few men with me to pray for her. We took turns praying with all the faith we could muster but no miraculous healing took place. During our time there I spoke of the debilitating effect of resentment, disappointment, and unforgiveness.
We all went home hoping for the best but not sensing any change in the woman's condition. But the next morning her husband called to tell of her full recovery!
When she let go of unforgiveness in her heart God set her free. Forgiveness was the key to this woman's restoration to health. She humbled herself and God honored it.
These two psalms remind us that the keys to contentment of the soul are humility, a sure hope, and a heart set free by forgiveness. Humbling ourselves in complete trust in God—knowing we need His mercy and that He is our hope—opens the door for restoration.
When we look to the Lord with full confidence and trust, we have the assurance of His mercy and unlimited forgiveness. Our contentment will be like that of a child at rest in the arms of its mother.
When you cry out to God in prayer or worship, do you have confidence He hears you?
Trust in the Lord, wait upon Him as your sure hope, and receive true peace and contentment because of His mercy and forgiveness.
©Word-Strong_2017
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I won't cover all 150 Psalms, but do selective devotionals through the rest of Psalms.
So if I skip one that you like... let me know and I'll try to cover it!
