“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!”–Psalm 130:1
My Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
One thing that can be counted upon, as sure as today’s sunrise, is the universal human awareness and experience of personal guilt.
While I want to avoid any unnecessary reductionism, this ubiquitous and innate knowledge of one’s own guilt explains why humans behave the way we do. In fact, I might argue that personal guilt is the ‘driver’ behind virtually everything we sinners engage in. Yet, there is a rather sinister paradox, or contradiction, about it.
For example, some people, moved by the knowledge of their own guilt, build hospitals, care for the poor and disenfranchised, teach the illiterate, feed the hungry, become exceptional parents, establish foundations that give away millions, work as first-responders, doctors, pastors, teachers, lawyers, community advocates, and accomplish many other such apparently selfless and laudable acts of sacrifice and service to mankind. For such people, this is how their guilt is mitigated.
Yet others, driven by that very same inner guilt, become thieves, murderers, maniacal dictators, ruthless corporate executives, gangsters, self-aggrandizing politicians, sexual deviants, manipulative and phony preachers, swindlers, narcissistic celebrities and the like. For such people, this is how their guilt is assuaged.
Christian apologists (those specially trained theologians who defend the Christian faith) often appeal to this universal human experience of guilt (and the diverse actions it fosters) as proof enough that we are, indeed, made in the image of the God of Holy Scripture. This persistent guilt continually testifies to us that we are all sinners before Him and must face the consequences that we so justly deserve. It is, then, not a matter of ‘if’ one is guilty. Rather, it is a simple matter of what one will ‘do’ with their guilt.
This brings us to Psalm 130 and the inspired words that we discover in the very first line: “Out of the depths. . . .”
The “depths” here are not those of a generalized despair, or ill-defined experience of debilitating anxiety or fear. Verses 3 and 4 of the Psalm make this very clear with the mention of “iniquities” and “forgiveness.” What is irrefutably in view is the despair and hopelessness that is always left in the wake of a sinner’s guilt before God. The only outstanding matter is what will one do next.
For the Psalmist, who speaks on behalf of all those who believe upon the Lord for their salvation, there is only one thing to do in response to the despair produced by the knowledge of our own sins and transgressions: we “cry to you, O Lord!” This is our starting point when we become painfully aware of our sins, and either experience the gentle conviction of the Holy Spirit, or the slanderous and destructive accusations of the devil. We raise our voices to our Heavenly Father, crying out to Him who loves us, and never turns His ears away from us, ever!
And be sure to note the way this Psalm ‘ascends’ (it is, after all, a ‘Psalm of Ascent’):
It begins at the bottom with a despairing confession of guilt, and a humble prayer for mercy and help: “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?” (vv. 2-3).
Then it rises to an affirmation of faith: “But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared” (v. 4).
Then it ascends further to the place of confidence: “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope” (v. 5).
Finally, it reaches its blessed summit where all despair, doubt, fear, and uncertainty have vanished: “And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (v. 8).
The difference, then, between a believer in Christ and a non-believer is not the presence and awareness of our guilt. The distinction is to be discovered in what we do with it. Here in Psalm 130, our Father in Heaven bids us to cry out to Him! His Son has already paid for all of our iniquities! He will greet our broken-hearted cries with His mercy and lavish grace! He will immerse us in His “steadfast love” (v. 7), and soothe our troubled souls with His Son’s blood, which has already accomplished our redemption!
So, on this new Monday, resolve that when guilt accosts you, when it leads you to despair over your sins, you will look up into the face of your Lord and Redeemer! You will trust His Word and His character! You will rest in His eternal loving-kindness and grace! And you will be encouraged all day long!
I love you all dearly, and always have you on my heart as I pray,
Mike
PS: After a short break, our next Monday Encouragement will come to you on Monday July 11. Our Monday notes for the rest of 2022 will be based on the words of Jesus (those in red) found in the four Gospels.