Psalm 130 - He Himself Redeems

Psalm 130:1-8 NIV

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. 

Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 

But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. 

I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning

, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love

 and with him is full redemption. 

He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Yom Kippur is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. The English translation is Day of Atonement or Day of Redemption. It is the day, the only day of the entire year, when the high priest entered the holy of holies. He stepped behind the veil concealing the most holy place in the temple where the ark of the covenant sat, that gold overlaid box Moses and Aaron had built to hold the ten commandments, written on two stone tablets by the finger of God. The ark was covered with a lid upon which sat two cherubim. Above their wings, it was believed, sat the throne of God. Though the Lord could not be seen, this space above the cherubim was known as the mercy seat. Here the high priest made intercession for the people Israel, pleading for mercy and forgiveness for their transgressions and sin during the year.

In the days of the temple, the streets of Jerusalem near the temple would flow with the blood of sacrifices flowing from the altar. The animals gave their lives in substitution for the lives of sinners. The blood of the animal sacrifices atoned or covered the people's sins. With their sins covered, holiness is restored and they can once again stand in the presence of holy God and enjoy His blessing.

I imagine Psalm 130 to be a perfect psalm for worshipers coming to the temple on the Day of Atonement. The psalm is a prayer of confession and a profession of faith in the mercy of God.

The psalm begins by entreating the Lord to hear the psalmist's cry for mercy. He acknowledges that his sins separate him from God. If it weren't for the mercy of God, none would be able to stand in His holy presence. For we all fall short of the glory of God. Atonement, the blood sacrifice, makes it possible to serve the Lord in humility and reverence.

This psalm communicates a deep ache, a terrible yearning for forgiveness. The psalmist wants to be made right again before His God. He knows his wrongs. He knows how he has offended God and harmed others. He is deeply sorrowed. He wants to be set free from his guilt which he feels deep within. So out of the depths of his soul he cries. And he waits on the mercy of the Lord to set him free.

Psalm 130 ends with an appeal to the community to put their hope in the unfailing love of God. They can expect complete freedom from shame and guilt through the redemption He will give. For God himself will redeem Israel.

As a Christian I can't help but read Jesus in that last thought.

Psalm 130:8 NIV

He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Jesus laid down His life, the lamb of God, for us all. His blood was shed upon the cross as a sacrifice to redeem us from all our sin. The death of the Son of God is the once for all sacrifice that covers over the sins of the world, for all people, for all time. Now, by an act of God's incredible mercy, we are free to serve Him in reverence.

Paul says it best.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19; 6:1 NIV

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

The Day of Atonement for Christians is any day. Every day the Lord forgives. Every day the Lord redeems. Every day freedom is yours in His mercy. Wait for it. Hope in it. Cry out for mercy and sweet redemption from the depths of your soul and trust in the unfailing love of Christ.