My Soul Waits for the Lord
Scott Street
My soul waits for the Lord. Psalm 130:5
Psalm 130 is the sixth of seven penitential psalms expressing guilt for sin and seeking God’s forgiveness. These types of psalms were a favorite of Martin Luther who said, “They teach us that forgiveness of sins is granted without the law and without works.”
We don’t deserve his mercy. We can’t earn his mercy. But he forgives us anyway.
When do we cry out to Lord for forgiveness? We often mistakenly think that we alone can overcome our sin, thought, word and deed, both done and undone, when in fact, we should recognize that God is in control of our lives and he alone can provide forgiveness. He hears all our prayers asking for forgiveness and he is always merciful.
The writer of this psalm also asks who of us could stand if God kept a punitive record of our sins. None of us could. Whether under the Law of the Old Testament, the promise of the New Testament, and continuing today, all humans are guilty of sin. We pray with the tax collector in Luke 18:13, “God have mercy on me, a sinner.”
In this time of Lent, we are more mindful of the cost of this forgiveness. Only through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is God’s mercy possible. With the psalmist we cry out for his mercy. There is hope for all. He is a loving God who cares for us beyond measure, who provided the means for our salvation through the sacrifice of our Lord.
Gracious God, when we are unable to resist the temptations of this world, please forgive us. We are so grateful for your mercy and grace, so freely given. Help us to be attentive to your word and vigilant in seeking your will and purpose in our lives. Amen.
Encounters With Christ 