By One of the songs sung on the way to the annual feasts in Jerusalem was Psalm 130. You might wonder what festival singing has to do with the guilt over your own sin, and this is where Psalm 130 provides a very important answer.
Before you can joyfully come to worship, you need the guilt of your sin removed. That is why, while preparing for the wonderful festivities at the Temple, the believers of old would dwell upon the seriousness of their sin, counsel each other regarding the assurance of forgiveness, and then sing it to each other on their way to worship.
As the title of Psalm 130 says, it is a song for the ascent up to Jerusalem.
Then, according to Psalm 130:1-2, although sin is primarily an offence against God, we would turn, not away from God, but to God. Out of the depths of the depression over one’s own sinfulness, they would pray to God.
When turning to God, it is time to uncover the truth about our sin. We cannot hide the realities. And so Psalm 130:3-4, we confess that, because of our sin, we would not be able to stand in God’s presence, but because of God’s forgiveness, we can pray to, and be accepted by the most fearsome and holy God.
Consequently, because of forgiven sins, as Psalm 130:5-6 repeat, we long for God to come. We wait, confidently and expectantly, for the day when God comes for us—as though it is currently a long, dark night, and God’s coming is daybreak.
Psalm 130:7-8 end this song of depression over our sin, reminding us that God indeed will come. Our waiting for His coming is not a mere spiritual self-help feeling, but a reality. He will really come. His love is fiercely loyal. Our sins will truly be forgiven.
Be it an Israeli of the time of David and Solomon, or a Christian in the time of Jesus’ Church, sin makes us guilty and God forgives us so we can sense the greatness of His glory, mercy, and love.
When sin makes you depressed, run to the Lord, experience His forgiveness, and look forward to His coming.