Summer Playlist, July 30
Summer in the Psalms Vol 2: Cry for Hope!
Psalm 130
July 30th, 2023
God’s past faithfulness cements His future faithfulness regardless of present circumstances!
Hope isn’t a baseless emption, hope is anchored in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Hope Anchor.
Hebrew 6:18-20 (NIV) 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised [read – in the future], he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
(Amplified Version) 17 In the same way God, in His desire to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable nature of His purpose, intervened and guaranteed it with an oath, [take His word for it!] 18 so that by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath] in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled [to Him] for refuge would have strong encouragement and indwelling strength to hold tightly to the hope set before us. 19 This hope [this confident assurance] we have as an anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whatever pressure bears upon it]—a safe and steadfast hope that enters within the veil [of the heavenly temple, that most Holy Place in which the very presence of God dwells], 20 where Jesus has entered [in advance] as a forerunner for us, having become a High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
(The Message) 17 When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they’ll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. 18-20 We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek.
Hope isn’t a hype message when it is anchored in Jesus! God isn’t a wish grantor He is a Promise Keeper!
Psalm 130 (NIV) 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.
God’s Character #1: God has an attentive and discerning ear.
V1,2: Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; 2 Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
A cry out is a
cry of ownership – I know where I am or what I did.
cry for mercy – don’t hold this against me.
cry of repentance – I need direction, I want to turn around.
Lord “YHWY” = Covenant God.
Lord “Adonai” = Master God.
We don’t get covenant God without bowing to master God.
God Character #2: God is a record forgiver not a keeper.
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.
For the Christian, God doesn’t see us through the lens of our past sin or our current weaknesses, He sees us through the righteousness of Christ. We are all in a “Christ-like” pilgrimage.
God’s Character #3: He is Hope worry.
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.
We don’t wait in the depths in anxiousness or fear; connected to God frees us to wait in HOPE for Him and His Word to show up in the morning!
Morning symbolizes God’s intervention.
Lamentations 3:22-23 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. His mercies are new every morning!
This life is a pilgrimage.
Pilgrims and Pilgrimages have purpose.
Pilgrimages are to life changing destinations not casual trips to the store.
Pilgrimages are real journeys with real wins and losses, success and failures.
“There are no shortcuts to worthwhile destinations. The destination dictates the journey.”
Satan opposes all God movement.
God’s Character #4: God Finishes Everything Fully.
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.
Regardless of how the distance was created, God’s redemption (His desire and ability to buy us back) is a full redemption…
a complete redemption
an uncompromising redemption
a no regret redemption
without any hint of “I told you so” or “this is your last chance” snark.
With our cry we reconnect with a God who…
has an attentive and discerning ear.
is a forgiver not a keeper.
is worth the wait.
finishes everything fully.
God will not reject your cry He will receive you.
God will not remind you of your sin, He will redeem you.
God responds to our cries with hope.
God doesn’t do anything half way, wholeness is found in Him and in Him alone.
Psalm 130 (The Message)
1-2 Help, God—I’ve hit rock bottom! Master, hear my cry for help! Listen hard! Open your ears! Listen to my cries for mercy. 3-4 If you, God, kept records on wrongdoings, who would stand a chance? As it turns out, forgiveness is your habit, and that’s why you’re worshiped. 5-6 I pray to God—my life a prayer— and wait for what he’ll say and do. My life is on the line before God, my Lord, waiting and watching till morning, waiting and watching till morning. 7-8 O Israel, wait and watch for God— with God’s arrival comes love, with God’s arrival comes generous redemption. No doubt about it—he’ll redeem Israel, buy back Israel from captivity to sin.