Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

At this point the psalm reaches into the New Testament era where God offers us his grace apart from the law. A “record of our sins” would render us guilty before the holy Lord of heaven but ‘he does not proceed according to the legal stringency of … justice.’ 4 We do not get what we deserve accord- ing to his divine laws. He asks a self-answering question; “who, O Lord, could ever survive?” the reply is obvious: “no one!” Those who have placed their trust in Christ no longer have a record being kept of their transgressions: “He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and de- stroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.” (Col. 2:14) Now we are offered the sweetest words ever spoken to the guilt-ridden person: “But you offer for- giveness,…” This is a full pardon based on the fact that Christ took our sins and guilt upon himself that we may go free. The word ‘forgiveness’ is used only three times in the Old Testament although the words forgive and forgiven are mentioned many times. Forgiveness is unique, it is an ‘action’ that be- gins at a specific moment but it continues on perpetually to the one receiving its benefit. “But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight-not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago. (Psalm 130:4?) We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins.” (Rom. 3:21, 22) This ‘forgiveness’ produces an unexpected reaction in the person being forgiven. Instead of being casual about God, the forgiven one has a high degree of respect and awe for the Lord; “that we may learn to fear you.” ‘Through forgiveness the number of worshippers of Yahweh would be increased.’ 5 The New International Version translates the 1st sentence more traditionally: “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,” the Hebrew word for ‘wait’ is used five times in the second half of the psalm. ‘My soul waits’ is repeated in the next verse and is stronger than simply saying “I wait” ; it implies an intense, from-the-heart expectation that God is about to do something significant on behalf of the singer. The ob- ject of the psalmists hope is ‘the word of God’ that promises to forgive the sinner who carries the weight of condemnation. “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassion- ate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.”(Ex.34:6,7) Now the psalmist imprints this forgiveness into a poetical image that is beautiful and unforgettable; “sentries longing for the dawn.” He borrows and ‘ascends’ the image from Psalm 127:1 where the sen- tries are watching Jerusalem; “Unless the Lord protects the city, guarding it with sentries will do no good” . While the musicians of the Temple would be playing their ancient instruments, you could almost feel the emotions of the watchmen on the wall of Jerusalem in the cold night air waiting for the first glim- mer of dawn to break upon the eastern Judean mountains. He repeats it twice to make it indelible in lis- tener’s imagination. Once again the greatest theological thoughts of the Bible are clothed and presented to us in musical and lyrical garments. The dawn will surely come just as surely as III I AM COUNTING ON THE LORD - 5, 6- Persisting in Hope “I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.” (5, 6)

IV

ISRAEL, HOPE IN THE LORD - 7, 8- Proclaiming His Word

“O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love and an overflowing supply of sal- vation. He himself will free Israel from every kind of sin.” (7, 8)

There is an abrupt change from a personal, intimate prayer to a public declaration; what the psalmist has experienced individually is now available to the entire nation of believers and he sings confidently of the “unfailing love and…overflowing supply of salvation.” This is the sweet song of mercy and for- giveness that comes from the wounded heart of God for his fallen creation. There is no greater theme for the human race. His “unfailing love” is abundant, never exhausted and given freely to the person who humbly repents before the Lord.

The last sentence beings a faint revelation of the coming Messiah; Jesus Christ who “himself” freed Israel from “every kind of sin” by his death on the cross. The angel told Joseph; “And she will have a son,

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