Today’s Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 15-16, Psalm 130-131, Luke 8:40-56, Colossians 3:15-25 Psalm 130: De Profundis—out of the depths I cry to you. We think of being “profound” as a state of wisdom or insight. But there is a profundity in despair, and this psalmist is in despair. He cries out to God. And what he declares about God is purest gospel: “with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared” (130:4). Cry out to God, ask him for pardon and mercy, and do so because such forgiveness can only come from God, and with him there is forgiveness. Not only with God is there forgiveness, but also “with him” is “steadfast love” and “plentiful redemption” (130:7). Therefore, “he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (130:8). In the end, the forgiveness we long for is based in the knowledge of who God is in himself: forgiving, loving, redeeming. This is the God of the Bible; this is the gospel. This is finally revealed in Christ who gave himself for us that we might be forgiven. Ask God then for forgiveness today. Do not think you have slipped too far from God or done something too bad. For “with God there is forgiveness.” Psalm 131: The next psalm has a different tone to it. Psalm 130 is desperate (crying out to God), but this psalm is peaceful. “My heart is not lifted up…my eyes are not raised too high” (131:1). He is like “weaned child” (131:2). He has been crying out to God for help, but now having found that help, he has also found something else: peace. On the other side of repentance and asking God for forgiveness, there is a precious jewel called Christian contentment. There is no peace for the wicked, but we are all wicked to one degree or another. So then where is there peace? Answer: from God who forgives us when we approach him in true repentance and true faith. Then we will discover this calm, not proud, “weaned,” peace with God.]]>