If the Lord Marked Sins: A Lenten Meditation on Psalm 130

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: 

I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

Let Israel hope in the LORD: 

for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

The Psalmist strikes a theme that runs throughout our readings for today, from Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well in John chapter 4, to Paul's exposition of justification by grace in Romans chapter 5.  For all the complicated contortions of modern psychology, science, and philosophy, all the twists and turns of semi-messianic or utopian politics, all the apostasies and vanities of contemporary theologians, humanity has at root only one fundamental, unavoidable problem:  we are dying sinners before a holy God.

These are the depths the Psalmist cries out from, because he knows his condition.  He knows that he is a corrupted man from his mother's womb, and that in sin did his parents conceive him.  He knows he has no right to call upon his holy God based upon who he is, but only on the basis of God's promise to hear him.  The Psalmist's prayer of faith to God begins with a repentant and contrite heart-- not with pride, avarice, or a sense of entitlement.  He is not interested in justifying himself before God, but rather that God might have mercy upon him.  It is in this faith which clings to God's mercy and grace, that the Psalmist begs the Lord to hear his prayer and supplications.

But more than a personal observation, the Psalmist writes that none may stand before God according to their good works, or be justified before Him on their merits.  The truth that none could stand before God should He decide to judge them for their sins, is an indication that every soul is corrupt in this world, and every soul deserves condemnation.  No one may say of himself that he deserves God's mercy, grace, and salvation, or that what he has done has bound God to give him whatever rewards he pleases.  Sinful man has no standing before God on the legal basis of divine justice, and neither is he strong enough to withstand or resist the judgment of God.  Death and suffering in this world remind us that we are not our own creators nor are we capable of saving ourselves from the death and hell which await us on account of our sins.  If we are to live and endure, it is by God's grace alone.  This eternal reality points us always to revere God over all things, because only He is the author of salvation.

And where is such saving grace to be found?  The Psalmist points us back to the foundation of his own hope:  the very Word of God.  The Father was at work through His Word and Spirit when He called the universe into existence; when He made mankind in His own divine image, creating them male and female; when He declared upon mankind the deadly curse of their rebellion and fall into the slavery of sin; when He promised to send His only begotten Son, born in the proper time of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to save all mankind from their deadly curse by taking their sins upon Himself through His death on a cross, and rising the third day to declare His victory over sin, death, hell, and the power of the devil; to send forth His disciples in His Name with His call to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, according to His Law and Gospel; to work by His Spirit through His Means of Grace (His Word preached, and applied individually through Baptism, the Supper, and Absolution) to forgive sins, raise up dead sinners to new and eternal life, and seal them forever in Jesus; to come again at the end of time, judge the living and the dead, gather His own to Himself forever, and cast the unrepentant evil into eternal fire; to consummate the eternal Kingdom of His Son with His Bride the Church, in the resurrection and restoration of all things.  Throughout all time, God has been at work in His Word, calling and saving those who would put their trust in Him.  So also today does the Lord call everyone to turn from the deadly course of their sin, and in humility seek His forgiveness, life, and salvation... not on the basis of a person's merits, but solely for the sake of His Son's sacrifice on their behalf.  This is the Word of Gospel grace which seeks and saves all who will hear and believe, and the only basis upon which the Psalmist's prayer can be faithfully uttered.

Hoping in this saving Word of God, the Psalmist calls everyone to hear, believe, and live-- reminding all that God will save His people.  There is no pit so deep into which anyone may fall that this saving word might not reach them, and no cultural decline or degeneration which is beyond the power of His Word to save.  Indeed, if God were to mark the sins of us as individuals, as families, as communities, as nations, and as the whole world, not one of us could withstand the judgment we so rightly deserve.  But with God there is forgiveness that He might be revered by everyone, of every tribe, every tongue, and every nation.  With God, there is grace in Jesus Christ, poured out through His Cross to everyone who will turn from their evil and trust in Him.  With God, there is salvation and life forevermore, which He works through His Word and Spirit to every person who will turn to Him.  Hear His Word reach into the darkness of your pit today, coming to shatter your despair, and to give you the gift which His love has always intended for you from before the world began.  Hear Him.  Repent, believe, and live.  Amen.