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Daily Devotion: Psalm 130:1-4 and 7

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Psalm 130:1-4    "Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.  (2)  Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.  (3)  If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?  (4)  But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared."

Psalm 130:7    "Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption."

"Who shall stand?" Isn't it a wonderful time when a toddler first stands to his feet? Even though he is wobbly and the stand may only last for a few seconds; yet, there is great joy and celebration when it happens. That degree of growth is incredible. The question asked in verse 3 is not concerning the first time we physically stand; rather, this is a spiritual question that is given to the child of God concerning our position before the Lord. The answer to the Psalmist's question is, "no one". If God should mark, or regard, our iniquities, no one would be able to stand before Him. For we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We may try to compare, or contrast, our sins against someone else, but we all, in and of ourselves, are guilty before God. That isn't very good news, is it?

Verse 4 begins with one of my favorite words in the Bible... "But..."  This one word shows great contrast between our ability and the mercy and grace of God.  Because of our iniquities, no one shall stand before the Lord, BUT there is forgiveness with God. Praise His Holy Name! There is forgiveness through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot, nor will we ever, be able to stand before God and boast of anything we have done. But when we stand before Him, we can only plead the blood of Jesus. We were dead in trespasses and sins, BUT God who is rich in mercy has raised us up to give us eternal life. I said the word, but, is one of my favorites, but it is my absolute favorite when you see these two words: "But God....." With the understanding of verses 3 and 4, we can cry out even more boldly as is written in verse 1.  I have no hope based upon myself, but "... with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption." I praise His Holy Name!

1 My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

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