Slices
Prepare
Remember those you know who are waiting and longing at the moment. Listen to God for them, and, if appropriate, share what you believe God might be saying.
Bible passage
A song of ascents.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 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.
Explore
Whatever the original setting of the psalm, it’s become one of the processional songs used by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem for the feasts. As such, it captures the longing of the people to meet with God and know his presence and blessing.
The writer is in turmoil (v 1), giving the whole psalm a passionate intensity. His urgent request to be heard (v 2) is followed by the recognition that he doesn’t deserve to be standing before God (v 3). Yet the demand is pressed anyway because forgiveness is inherent in God’s character (v 4). The psalmist looks once again to serve God reverently after receiving forgiveness and mercy. But no resolution comes. The intensity of his longing simply builds – his whole being waiting, staking his trust on God’s word and character (v 5). Greater even than the longing of the night guards for the coming of the dawn is his longing for an assurance of God’s forgiveness and renewed favour (vs 5,6).
At the end of the psalm, those ascending to the feast are invited to make the writer’s impassioned song their own (vs 7,8). What mercy are they seeking as they put their hope once again in the God of Israel?
Respond
Read Psalm 46:10. Be still and bring anything you’re waiting on God about into his presence. Remember to extol him and ask for a breakthrough.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Deuteronomy 4,5; Matthew 27
Pray for Scripture Union
Please pray for the SU New Zealand team retreat from March 18–21. Pray that this time for sharing, prayer and spiritual refreshment will be used by God to make the team more effective in ministry.
