11/29/20 – Psalms at Advent – Hope

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! 2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. 5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; 6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭130:1-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I. The Truth, the Treasure, and the Trajectory of Laments
A. To cry is human, but to lament is uniquely Christian.
B. Lamenting is not only unique to Christians but also common to Christians because God expects we share our pain with Him.
C. Laments follow a trajectory and teach us how to complain and yet be content that God will ultimately take care of us.

II. Being Honest and Seeking the Help of God
A. We should bring our complaints to God but should never settle for just a vent session with God.
B. We go honestly to God sure not only will He hear us because we are His, but He will do what is best for us because we are His, too.
C. We ask for God’s help and mercy because we know He alone has the power to bring our suffering to an end.

III. Being Honest about Our Mistakes and the Mercy of God
A. Being honest about our mistakes can leave us feeling condemned.
B. Being honest about God’s delight in extending mercy, reminds us we are not condemned if we are in Christ.
C. God delights to forgive because no one holds God in awe like a sinner whose been pardoned.

IV. Being Hopeful as We Hold On
A. We wait, like the Psalmist, with our whole hearts and with hope.
B. Christ is worth the wait. His kingdom fully come and realized is worth the wait.
C. As Christians we don’t wait alone but with others whose hope is set on the same thing as ours.