Summer is here, and for me summer is the time to study the Psalms in depth. Last year I used Calvin’s commentary as my guide; and this summer I will be led through them by Spurgeon. This week I have been meditating on Psalm 130, and as I read Spurgeon’s commentary, I was impressed on the richness of this wonderful Psalm, and how much I need to pray it. This Lord’s day my prayer is based on this Psalm as well as on Spurgeon’s reflections.

Psalm 130

My Soul Waits for the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!

Father of Lights, All Merciful King, let my life be a progression, an ascent to you. Never going back, but always growing, always from glory to glory until the day I see your face and find my joy fulfilled. Oh LORD, that I may always cry to you, no matter where I might be, no matter how depth the valley or how scary the storm; that you may always hear my voice calling your name which is mighty to save at all times. Let me walk this week whispering prayers, laying down at your feet, with an audible voice, my cares, my concerns, the deepest longings of my heart knowing that you hear me.

O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

Hear me, hear my prayer, O Father!  To know that you hear my prayer is my only hope, my only comfort in the valley. That I may not forget that you are a God who delights in hearing the prayer of his people, of his children! Lord, open my mouth, that I may utter all day prayers before you! Why should I keep quiet if you hear me? Why should I remain silent if my Heavenly Father has ears for my prayers?

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.

Father, it is true, “none fear the LORD like those who have experienced his forgiving love. Gratitude for pardon produces far more fear and reverence for God than all the dread which is inspired by punishment”  O God, amen,  I fear your name, which is holy, because of your amazing grace has been manifested to me. You have seen my heart, you have searched within me and have not found anything good in me; yet, in spite of all my iniquities and for the sake of Jesus Christ, my Mediator, it has pleased you not to count me among the condemned, among those who have no hope; you have not marked all my iniquities, and now in Jesus I can stand before the Most Holy and find forgiveness. I bow with all reverence and fear your goodness.

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.

Father, because I know that you hear me, I can now wait on You knowing that if it pleases You to make me wait, I will wait with all my heart because those who wait on the Lord are blessed indeed!  Help me remember that the waiting itself is beneficial for my soul as it “tries my faith, helps me exercise patience, trains me in submission, and helps me endear the blessing when it comes.” Father, help me to persevere as I wait on you in the study of your Holy Word and prayer, because “Your Word O LORD, is a firm ground for a waiting soul to rest upon.” Father, give me the determination to wake up early every day, strengthen my body that I may wake up before my family, to pray earnestly for each one of them. That I may not be distracted by anything! That my first words every day bring glory to you. Lord, I want to seek you diligently, with all perseverance, wholeheartedly;  I want to wait for you even more than the watchman for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.

God, you are my only hope; in you alone is steadfast love, and plentiful redemption! You have crowned me with these three, what else should I want?

I love you, O Lord, my Redeemer!

Becky