MEDITATIONS FROM THE PSALMS

 

March 2, 2005         

Reading: Psalm 130

 

“But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.” Ps 130:4

 

My soul, of all the wonderful Psalms, this is one of the most golden; it contains many of the jewels embedded in the Crown of Glory. The riches of your salvation are here displayed for all to see. Upon reading these words does not your heart cry out with Mary, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior?” The cries of a heart truly broken before God, from the depth of sin to the depth of divine mercy, are clearly pronounced by the Holy Spirit.

Consider what there is in God for the one with a broken heart:

“There is forgiveness with You” (4)

“With the Lord there is mercy” (7)

“With Him is abundant redemption: 7).

But how can this be true when you are a sinner and the wages of sin is death? How can God, who is so Holy that He cannot look on sin, look upon you with such mercy? How can He whose judgment on sin is eternal hell provide you with an abundant redemption? To you, my soul, who knows Him, the answer is abundantly clear—His name is Jesus. He is the One who has made this all possible. He forever stands between you and the wrath of God. All the time you see Jesus seated at His Father’s right hand you will never fear His wrath. He is your confidence and your peace, for is He not your great Propitiator? He has obtained your redemption and, because He has shed His blood for you, God’s forgiveness and mercy will forever be the choicest fruit set before you as you feast at His table.

Forgiveness, mercy and redemption—the Triple Crown of God’s love.

 

  But what does the latter part of the verse mean; “there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared?“ Would it not be better if it said, that You may be loved? Not at all; “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” And although “perfect love casts out fear,” that is, the fear of hell, the bondage fear of unpardoned sin; yet, the child-like fear, which a sense of pardoning love begets in the soul, is among the sweetest contemplations of your new nature. Devils fear and tremble, and feel despair and horror; but the affectionate fear of a redeemed soul is the reverse of this, and only manifests itself in the most earnest desire to never to offend your God. And the sense of God’s forgiving love, and of Jesus as your propitiatory, this fear becomes the great preservative from sin. Hence the Lord himself saith, “I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me” Jer 32:40.

 

 My soul, think about this often throughout the day and especially when you lie down to sleep. Rest in the knowledge that Jesus, your Jesus, your Propitiation, is with God at His right hand, that you may fear him; and He may be your exceeding great  joy and confidence, both now and forever.

 

I will sing of my Redeemer and His wondrous love to me;

On the cruel cross He suffered, from the curse to set me free.

 

I will tell the wondrous story, how my lost estate to save,

In His boundless love and mercy, He the ransom freely gave.

 

I will praise my dear Redeemer, His triumphant pow’r I’ll tell,

How the victory He giveth over sin, and death, and hell.

                                                                                           Philip P. Bliss