By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
TUESDAY
THEME: HOPE IN HIS WORD”
SCRIPTURE: Psalms 130:4-5
“[4]But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. [5]I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.”
REFLECTIONS:
One of the most outstanding blessings you may receive in this life is a loving, caring, empathetic, and even prodigal father who gives without considering the quantum because of love for the sinner, needy, weak, and desperate. For sober, grateful, appreciative people, God our Father is everything to us. In Him, we live, move, and have our being.
Having a Father who is always willing to forgive is a significant privilege. Psalms 130 brings to our attention a God who is caring, moving, checking, visiting, and inquiring to bless. That is the Father-figure we are blessed to have. Like the shepherd who left 99 sheep in search of the lost one, our Father comes to us in our desperate and broken times. The title: “Waiting for the Redemption of the LORD,” is a hopeful reminder of the salvation privileges that await us in God, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The psalmist drills down and highlights God’s character of selflessness, meekness, and sympathy as He stoops low to rescue the despaired writer (and us), irrespective of the depth of his (our) predicament.
In verses 1-2, the psalmist reveals and appeals, “[1]Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; [2]Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications.” Indeed, no genuine petition will be presented to God without His complete admiration and condescension. To call on God alone is a joy to Him, but to ask for forgiveness, He will act swiftly, and it will be an unforgettable experience for you in the Lord. Who has no sin? If we all do have, then we wholeheartedly admit that the mercies of God have preserved us because “If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” – verse 3. God forgives individual and community or collective sins (vv. 4,8). When we acknowledge our sins before God, He forgives us so we might reconnect with Him and love Him more.
Because of His patience and forgiveness, we may wait on Him patiently and perseveringly. His word is immutable, life-changing, and hope-giving. Therefore, the psalmist declares in verses 5-6, “[5]I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. [6]My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.” Beloved, you will always complain unless you hope in God’s word. You will never be happy with yourself and others and have no strength to live a morally upright life. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit that fights the enemy’s fiery darts and snares; therefore, if you do not have confidence in it, you have no appropriate weaponry to fight your life’s battles. Hope in the Lord your redeemer, wait on Him, and make His word your hope.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 522 – “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for His forgiveness; thank Him for the opportunity to reconnect and be renewed; pray to hope in the word of the Lord;
– Pray for fellow believers who find it challenging to seek forgiveness and grace from Christ; pray for forgiveness and renewal for family, church, and community members;
– Pray for people in the diaspora, displaced people, refugees, distraught asylum seekers, irregular migrants, and war and disaster victims;
– Pray for families mourning their dear ones, healing for the unwell, and peace in war-torn areas; pray for Ghana as a new president takes up the reins of government.
