Well, good morning.
My name again is Drew Arrington, and I count it a great privilege to be with you this morning
and a great honor to preach God's holy and inspired word.
Last week, Matthew helped us to see that Jesus, the faithful king, both comforts us and challenges us.
And one of the ways that Jesus challenges us is by leading his people into and through uncomfortable situations.
But, you know, Christians don't have a monopoly on difficult and challenging situations in uncomfortable times.
And as a result, there is plenty of contemporary advice on how one could and should deal with such times.
In a film, I know I said film, so you purists out there of J.K. Rowling, I understand it's not in the books, okay?
But in the film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the wise wizard Albus Dumbledore is standing before students
at the opening session of Hogwarts, much like I am with you.
And he's telling them about some faculty changes that have occurred over the summer break.
He's enlightening them to the fact that the coming school year will be a bit more challenging
for the presence of some outsiders around them that will make things seem to be darker than they actually are.
And when he does this, he ends with a prophetic proclamation that provides guidance to Potter and his pals.
And this is what he says.
Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times.
If one only remembers to turn the light on.
Now, it will not strike you as odd that our reading this morning will offer much better hope
than the words offered to the Hogwarts students.
So if you find yourselves like these fictional students on the precipice of an uncomfortable situation,
if you find yourself like this psalm,
if you find yourself like this psalm is for you.
Or, if you are younger in life and you have yet to experience times of deep darkness and the depths of despair,
this psalm is for you.
And finally, if you are here this morning and you are peering through relentless darkness
in search of some faint flicker of light,
then my dear friend,
this psalm is most definitely for you.
With that in mind, I would ask that we pray for the reading and preaching of God's word
before turning our attention to Psalm 130.
So with that, please join me in prayer.
Oh, gracious Heavenly Father, we indeed are needy and broken people this morning.
Our minds are dull and darkened by the presence of sin.
Our hearts are distracted by a multitude of affections.
And so we ask that you might grant us an extraordinary measure of your Holy Spirit.
That his power and presence might enlighten our minds
and warm our hearts to the truth of your scripture.
God, may this morning that we might not only know more about you,
but God, that we might come to love you with more tenacity.
God, we ask this, that it might glorify your name,
that it might honor Christ,
and that it might be for the good of your church.
Amen.
Well, Psalm 130.
If you'll turn in your Bibles or direct your device,
it starts with the caption of a psalm of ascent.
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy.
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
O Lord, you're in a voice for mercy.
O Lord, my soul is forgiven.
But with you, there is forgiveness that you may be feared.
I wait for the Lord.
My soul waits, and in his word I hope.
My soul waits for the Lord.
More than watchmen for the morning.
more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
This concludes today's reading of God's word,
which is holy, inspired, and infallible.
Well, this morning we're going to consider the four stanzas,
the four couplets, if you will, of this poem in groupings of two.
So we're going to first examine the cry of despair to a gracious God,
which we see in the first four verses.
And then we will turn our attention to the response of a faithful God
in the final four verses.
And with that in mind, let's turn our attention to the cry of the psalmist.
One of the questions that comes to my mind as I'm first reading this is,
why is the psalmist crying out in despair?
What has plunged this psalmist in to the depths and the darkness of despair?
And the answer is, we don't know.
He's silent.
And a lot of people really don't even know who wrote this.
Some attribute it to David.
Most attribute it to somebody unknown.
So here we have an unknown psalmist, an unknown follower of God,
in the depths of despair, and we don't know why he's there.
But you know, that's not a problem for us.
It's not a problem for us because we have the entirety of Scripture that helps us to understand
why the psalmist is in the midst of despair and why we find ourselves in the depths and darkness of despair.
And I want to point to three examples that highlight three reasons why we find ourselves
and why perhaps the psalmist finds himself in this situation.
First, we see in Exodus 3 that the Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt.
And it gives us a hint that sometimes we are in the depths of despair because of the sins of others,
because of the oppression that sin brings into life through the actions of other human beings.
In the life of Jesus Christ, we see him in despair in the Garden of Gethsemane.
And the main reason is because he is looking forward to the cross and the pain of death.
And so in that, we see that sometimes we suffer because of natural sin.
The fact that our bodies are not the way they were designed to be prior to sin,
but that they decay and eventually die.
And so we suffer not only the natural sin of our bodies decaying,
but we suffer the natural sin of many natural calamities.
And then we see in the life of Jonah, which is where most of us go
when we think about the reason for suffering,
and that is our own personal sin and rebellion against the holy God.
He says, you know, Jonah decided to run from the calling that God had given him,
and instead of pursuing God, went the exact opposite direction,
ended up in a storm, and then in the belly of a whale.
Talk about the depths of despair.
And we don't know, again, what the author was suffering through,
but I have a great hunch and understanding that you probably are pretty intimately aware
of what you are suffering with this morning.
You are probably pretty well acquainted with what type of sin has plunged you
into the depths and darkness of despair.
Perhaps it's a marriage that started out with great promise
and now is flooded with faults and accusations and a lack of love and appreciation.
Perhaps it's the death of a dear family member.
Maybe it's a medical diagnosis that has thrown you and your family for a loop.
Maybe it's a baby.
Or maybe you're looking at the life of a now-grown child
who has turned his or her back on the faith.
Well, one thing we know, we don't know what the despair is here,
but we do know that when in distress and people cry out,
we know that not all cries are equal.
It was not too long ago that some of us may have seen and heard
of the horrible act of violence that occurred in Memphis
in which five officers brutally beat a young man.
And it's not my point here to talk about the injustice of that,
although from all accounts it was very unjust.
But really, it's the focus here on the fact that in the midst of despair
and darkness, this young man cried out.
He cried out for his mom.
And his mom didn't hear, even though she was just literally yards away.
But it's not just the attack in Memphis.
We see in ancient Israel a desperate cry in the midst of dark times
when the prophets of Baal challenged to cry out to their God
to alleviate the drought.
They cry out.
They dance around.
They yell.
They cut themselves.
But Baal did not hear.
Oh, but in stark contrast are the words of Matthew Henry
commenting on this psalm when he says,
But in the greatest depths, it is our privilege that we may cry unto a God
and be heard.
More importantly than Matthew Henry's words are the examples of Scripture
that I pointed us to earlier.
is that in Hebrews, the Hebrews who were enslaved in Egypt,
says that in Exodus 3, God, speaking with Moses, says,
Moses, I have seen the affliction of my people,
and I have heard their cry.
Jesus crying to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane.
He says,
Oh, what great assurance this is for mothers and fathers who send their children
out of their homes into a world where we know they will be assaulted
in various different forms, whether mentally or emotionally
or in their education.
And to know that when they cry out,
even though we may not hear them,
we serve a God who does hear them.
Oh, but we serve not only a gracious God who hears us,
we serve a gracious God who forgives us.
And when we cry out in the depths of despair,
when it is even our own sin that plunges us there,
we cry out knowing that along with Jonah,
that God's steadfast love remains with us,
and his forgiveness reaches even into those depths.
The psalmist, in verses 3 through 4,
tells us as much when he says that God's forgiveness,
he says,
But with you there is forgiveness that you may be feared.
Forgiveness brings hope.
But as the psalmist says here,
it also alerts us to fear.
And that raises a very good question that I hope isn't a bunny trail,
but really needs to be addressed.
So why would forgiveness evoke fear?
Let's put it this way.
If it weren't for sin, we wouldn't need forgiveness.
And so the very fact that God forgives sin
highlights the seriousness of that very sin.
And the psalmist would understand that so well,
being there in the temple
and watching the sacrifices come in,
the animals being led up to the altar,
the hands being laid on,
transferring the sin of the individual
or the sin of the community onto that animal,
and then having that animal slaughtered in their presence
and then burned on the altar.
However, the author would very much see the link
between sin and death.
Oh, but we have something that is far greater
than the sacrifice of a lamb or a ram on an altar.
We have the very life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ
that points to us not only the seriousness of our sin,
but also the sure and certain confidence
that we have forgiveness through our Savior Jesus Christ.
Even when it's our own sin that plunges us
into the depths and darkness of despair.
So when in those depths,
remember that relief does not come
by remembering where to turn on the light.
Rather, we find hope in a gracious God
who hears our cries and forgives our sins.
But it's just not the psalmist's cry that we see.
We see the response of a faithful God.
And one of the best stories that I've seen
about a response to being in the depths of despair
and the freedom that awaits is recorded
by a Reverend Tuck in a commentary.
And he writes the following.
In the year 1830,
on the night preceding the 1st of August,
the day slaves in the British West Indies
were to come into possession of the freedom promised them,
many of them, we are told,
never went to bed at all.
Thousands upon thousands of them
assembled in their places of worship,
engaging in devotional duties
and singing praises to God,
waiting for the first streak
of the light of the morning
of the day on which they were to be made free.
Some of their number were sent to the hills
from which they might obtain
the first view of the coming day.
And by a signal,
communicate to their brethren down in the valley
the very first moment of the breaking dawn.
Now this is the same posture of the psalmist here
when he says that he is waiting
more than the watchman.
He says,
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchman for the morning.
More than watchman for the morning.
He has this posture
of hopeful waiting
and trusting
for the dawning of the light
to come
that he might have rest
and relief.
Notice,
this is not something that we can generate.
It's not something we can turn on.
It's not something that comes
from a government proclamation,
a regulatory reform,
or a politician's promise.
No,
this is hopeful,
waiting,
and trusting
in a gracious
and faithful God.
But here,
the psalmist thinks
more than a rescue
is what's in store.
It's more than just
alleviation
of a temporary,
temporal problem.
No,
the psalmist anticipates
much more.
He awaits
plentiful redemption.
Plentiful redemption
from a God
of steadfast love.
I think one of the best ways
to illustrate this
is
through the life
of a man
who actually
worked
to enslave
the same people
that we referred earlier
in 1830
who were waiting
on that herald
to say,
the day has arrived,
we're free.
And that person
is John Newton
who was a
slaver
along a ship
in various forms
and capacities
from crew
all the way up
to being a captain.
And multiple times
throughout his career,
he would cry out
to God
for some sort
of deliverance
and God
would answer him.
And then he would
go on
continuing
in his sin.
So we see
it's not just
a rescue
from depths
of despair
that God
has at,
but as in the life
of John Newton
who became
a pastor
and then
one of the most
ardent abolitionists
in England,
we know that God
is looking
for plentiful
redemption.
But it's not
just an earthly
redemption
that we look
forward to.
it is
that eternal
redemption
when God
comes back
in the form
of Jesus Christ
at the end
of history
and frees us,
redeems us
from all
our
iniquities.
So the
slaves
in the
British
Americas,
they were,
had sent
their peers
up on the
ridge
to catch
the morning
light
and then
signal back
down
that day
has arrived.
And I want
you to know
that we have
a more powerful
herald
than those
individuals.
because we
have a
herald
that points
us not
just to
our
freedom
in this
world
but to
a plentiful
redemption
that awaits
us in the
next and
that person
is none
other than
Jesus Christ.
He is the
first fruits
of the
resurrection.
He is the
one who
has conquered
death,
stands on
the other
side of
death and
despair,
and he
looks back
and he
says,
I am
here
and the
light is
coming.
So when you
find yourself
in the midst
of the
darkness and
the depths
of despair
that you
will encounter
in this
life and
the horizon
just seems
to be below
and lower
than you want
it to be
and the sun
isn't peeking
over the
crest,
know that
Jesus Christ
is there
seated at
the right
hand of
God the
Father
interceding
and pleading
on your
behalf and
he is
communicating
to you
through the
Holy Spirit
saying,
hang on,
the light
is coming.
The light
that will
deliver you
not only
from this
circumstance
that you
find yourself
in,
but it
will redeem
you from
all the
effects of
sin.
and
corruption.
So hang
on.
The
herald
tells you
the light
is coming.
It's not
a light
that we
have to
somehow
turn on.
No,
it is more
than that.
It is the
steadfast love
of the
faithful
Father.
The
plentiful
redemption
purchased
by the
Son
and the
presence
of the
Holy Spirit
reminding us
of both
those
realities.
peace.
Well,
we conclude
our time
together
this morning
with the
promise that
in the
depths and
darkness of
despair,
we have a
better hope
than mere
happiness
and a
light that
is surer
than our
ability to
turn it
on.
So when you
find yourselves
in the depths
of despair,
cry out to a
gracious God
who hears
and forgives.
when the
light of
dawn refuses
to break
through the
darkness of
despair,
cling to the
faithful God
who showers
you with
steadfast love
and plentiful
redemption.
In the words
of Charles
Simeon,
if we
looked inward,
we shall
find nothing
but discouragement.
But if with
David we
look to God,
we may find
abundant
encouragement in
his attributes,
in his works
and in his
words.
He is
faithful.
His presence
will penetrate
the darkness.
His grace
will illuminate
the depths
and his
strength will
carry you
through the
despair and
bring you
all the way
home.
Amen.
Let us
pray.
Gracious
God, you
are indeed
the God who
offers plenteous
redemption.
God, would you
please encourage
us and remind
us this morning
through the power
and presence of
your Holy Spirit
of the sure and
certain realities
that even though
we may find
ourselves in the
depths of despair,
surrounded by
darkness, the
light of your
presence is on
its way.
And the
dawning of
eternity will
bring a day in
which the light
will never end.
we ask all
this in
Christ's name.
Amen.