September 20, 2021: SOAP #4309:  Daniel 5-6; Psalm 130; Luke 3

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm (NIV) 130:1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness; therefore, you are feared.

OBSERVATION: 1 We can recall Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the fish.  Perhaps the psalmist was thinking the same.  We could easily imagine Joseph calling out to God from the pit into which his brothers placed him. Surely that was only the first of many such prayers in the life of Joseph.
2 When we get desperate, we want someone to listen!  Someone has to hear.  We want someone to know and understand what we are going through.
3 God is the perfect judge.  Nothing escapes his scrutiny.  God even judges the heart.  And He knows what we are thinking!  Indeed, the Psalmist was so obviously right: “If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?”
4 If we do not appreciate the truth in verse 3, we will not fully appreciate the truth in verse 4. The Perfect Judge is also a Perfect Forgiver!

APPLICATION:  There was one desperate prayer that was not answered.  Even though it tore through the heart of our Father God, he turned away from the cry escaping the lips of His only begotten Son preparing for the agony of the cross.  That prayer was ignored, that my prayer might be answered!  Sin was laid on him that it might be lifted from me! He paid the full price, that I might freely go.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, more than once in desperation I have called out to you.  Though unworthy, I have been the recipient of your forgiveness, your mercy and grace.  I am eternally grateful! Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!