With Forgiveness There is Hope

Summer of Good News – Week 2

 Psalm 130                                                                                                                Week of June 10, 2018

 ¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; ² O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive

to my cry for mercy. ³If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

 1.      Take a moment to think on the above. Have you ever cried out to God, pleading with Him for mercy? If not, why? Do you think sin is not really that bad? How does knowing that God doesn’t keep a record of your sin (or anybody else’s) help you in your relationship to others?

 ⁴ But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. ⁵ I wait for the Lord, my soul

waits, and in his word I put my hope. ⁶ My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen

wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

 2.      Some people say that God judges (condemns) in the Old Testament and the New Testament He forgives. how does this reading help us understand that God is as forgiving in the Old Testament as He is in the New? The watchmen are those who have been charged to keep watch over Israel’s spiritual and physical wellbeing. How important is it for you to pay attention to these needs in your community rather than rely only on the ‘professionals’ charged to do so? See Matt 22: 38-40  How does “hope” in God’s word help you?

 ⁷ O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is

full redemption. ⁸ He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

 3.      Knowing that God’s forgiveness is sure and that He is for you, do help people understand that God is for them, too? The verse above call the nation to place their trust in the God who forgives and whose love is unfailing: Do see, in our nation, this promise being fulfilled? If not, why do you think that is so? Is it wrong for us to want God’s blessings for our (or any nation) nation? Will you commit to praying for our leaders this week? Full redemption means not only for this life, but the one to follow. Are you excited about the life to come? Give God thanks for His unfailing love to you!

 Check back next week for Summer of Good News –  Week 3