Our human tendency is to “go astray like sheep to our own way” apart from the Shepherd (Isaiah 53:6). Even when things start to become difficult, we often still try to find “our own way” apart from God’s “narrow way that leads to life” (Matthew 7:14). It’s only when we become desperate enough, that we look up. That’s the theme of the pilgrim in his song of ascent, Psalm 130 – humbly seeking the LORD in a desperate situation; i.e., out of the depths.
Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice! Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the LORD more than the watchman for the morning (Psalm 130:1-2; 5-6).
If you have ever had overnight duty, you know the feeling of longing for the morning light. But the writer also realizes that a big part of his desperate situation is that he has strayed from the LORD, and therefore prays humbly but also with confident hope in God’s forgiveness:
If Thou, LORD, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord who could stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared (vv. 3-4)
This is the Matthew 5:3 of the Old Testament: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven – i.e., forgiveness and fellowship with the Lord are for those who know they don’t deserve it. Could all of the events of the past months and year be, in part, God’s way of getting His people to look up from our self-dependent ways and cry out to him from the depths for His mercy and forgiveness? And the psalm ends with a national call to seek the LORD. I’m going to take the liberty to make a substitution for Israel in verse 7 as my prayer to the LORD today:
O United States of America, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption.