Forgiveness and the hope of reconciliation
Read Psalm 130
1) vv1-3: What could have evoked this cry ‘out of the depths’?
- v2 Cry for mercy: Why? =>
- v3: How can one mark iniquities? [hebr. shamar: keep, watch, preserve]
- If the writer was so confident that God does not do that, why did he still ask so emphatically for mercy?
- How is it in your human relationships: If someone is good at forgiving and forgetting, does that mean you need not apologize for your offenses? Why not?
- v3, ‘who could stand‘: Stand – in what sense? cf Eph 6:14; Ps 121:3
- Read Ps 129:2 => Why would it be impossible to prevail and persevere in the faith if it were not for God’s mercy?
- Why is it vital to know and understand that?
- How does God’s mercy preserve the believers? =>
2) v4: Why do you think do believers sing about God’s forgiveness?
- Why is the emphasis on ‘with you…’? cf Acts 10:43; 13:38-39
- If with God there is forgiveness, how could that cause anyone to fear God?
- One of the charges against Christianity is that the emphasis on forgiveness encourages people to lose fear of God and to sin deliberately: What do you think about that? cf Ro 6:1-4
3) vv5-6: What is the writer waiting for, more then watchmen?
- Hint: Consider the context =>
- ‘in his word I hope’: That it will produce what exactly?
- Why expect that his word – and only his word – can accomplish that? cf Heb 4:11-12
- What has such expectation to do with ‘resting in God’?
- How does such resting differ from sleeping?
- Why must watchmen wait but stay awake?
- Why doesn’t the writer say: I hope in the Holy Spirit?
- Or does he, v6a? cf Jn 6:63
4) vv7-8: What exactly was Israel asked to hope for?
- …during OT times? cf Lk 2:25-32
- After God became man in the person of Jesus, how do you think this call to never lose hope applies to believers nowadays? cf Col 1:27-2:2
- Ps 130 reminds worshipers to encourage each other to set their hope on the Lord. Hope for what? vv2, 7b, 8
- Why do we need such reminders?
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