Did they know?

Psalm 130

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

¹ From the depths of despair, O Lord,
I call for your help.
² Hear my cry, O Lord.
Pay attention to my prayer.

³ Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,
who, O Lord, could ever survive?
⁴ But you offer forgiveness,
that we might learn to fear you.

⁵ I am counting on the Lord;
yes, I am counting on him.
I have put my hope in his word.
⁶ I long for the Lord
more than sentries long for the dawn,
yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.

⁷ O Israel, hope in the Lord;
for with the Lord there is unfailing love.
His redemption overflows.
⁸ He himself will redeem Israel
from every kind of sin.

I am picturing in my mind Hebrew travellers on their way to Jerusalem, singing the “Songs of Accent” as they travel along. I wonder what they would have made of Psalm 130. 

Would they have known that forgiveness for sins (see verse 3) would one day be possible not through the continual sacrifice of animals but by the shed blood of Jesus – the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (see John 1:29)? Did they know they were signing about full pardon, complete redemption? (see verse 7)

Did they realise that they were singing about the joy of eternal purpose – hope and light and meaning beyond this mortal life – and in the here and now, made possible only through Jesus’ triumph over the grave? 

Did they realise the magnitude of the words “He Himself will redeem”? Could they have ever imagined that God would one day be born into extreme poverty, walk ‘in their shoes’ (and mine), and ultimately hang from a cross in our stead? Did they realise that Jesus would carry my redemption in His own body? 

Why don’t you join me today and repeat verse 7 out loud, replacing the word ‘Israel’ with your own – 

Oh B, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord, there is unfailing love.

Jesus, I praise you today. I place all my hope on you alone. Amen 

Written by B van Noppen