Psalm 130:

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.

3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
       O Lord, who could stand?

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.

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.

“Why did such a normally nice guy say something like that all of a sudden? Where did that come from?” It came from “out of the depths.” Its almost as though every soul is like a house with a cluttered basement, in which remain many things unwanted, unappreciated and unknown. In which things "go bump in the night," and from which arise cries for mercy, such as that uttered in Psalm 130. That’s what makes it a prominent prayer for Lent. If you want to know some of the treasures and the trash I find coming "up from the depths," read last Sunday’s message for the fifth Sunday of Lent at this linkDownload Psalm130.doc

Many blessings to you,

Mathew Swora, pastor

Emmanuel Mennonite Church