Even When It's My Fault

SCRIPTURE: Ps. 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.

⁵ I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
⁶ My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

⁷ O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
⁸ He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.

OBVSERVATION: What a comforting psalm! David is in the depths of despair and the innocent life of his son hangs in the balance. God has told him his son will die as punishment for his sin with Bathsheba. David committed adultery with the wife of a close friend who had been with him through all his trials with Saul and when she got pregnant as a result, he had her husband murdered to cover up his sin. He is in despair, calling on God's mercy and unfailing love to change the situation that he himself created. And he is waiting anxiously for God's reply. He ends by affirming that he is trusting in God's unfailing love. (By the way, God does not change his mind in this case, and the child dies. But David accepts the answer without blaming God).

APPLICATION: I have counted on, and continue to count on God to hear me and give me comfort, even when I have been the cause of my own trouble and grief. He is faithful, and I can trust that whatever his decision is, it is for my best.

PRAYER: Father in heaven, holy is your Name, your kingdom come and your will be done here on earth, just like it is in heaven. Teach me to trust always in your unfailing love, your forgiveness, and your healing hand to touch me in the deepest recesses of my heart. Those pains are as bad as any that I have in the physical realm. I am so glad that you heal and answer prayer, even when I am the cause of my own suffering. I love you, Lord. Thank you for your grace. In Jesus' Name, Amen.