Songs of Ascent - Hope (Psalm 130)

As we come before the Lord today, cry out to him and know his forgiveness and welcome.

Psalm 130

Forgiveness is certain if we cry out to God, and this is through the gift of Christ’s death and resurrection.

On May 26, 2013, the tugboat Jascon-4 was struck by a rogue wave and capsized 20 miles off the coast of Nigeria. The ship rapidly sank in total darkness, plunging 100 feet (30 meters) down to the Atlantic Ocean floor. While 11 of his crew members tragically perished, Okene was swept through the vessel as it flipped, eventually finding himself trapped inside a small cabin bathroom. There in the dark and cold, in cramped conditions, and with a dwindling air supply being poisoned by his own carbon dioxide, he clung to hope for 63 hours. When South African specialized recovery divers finally swam into the wreck to retrieve bodies, they were shocked when Okene's hand reached out and touched a diver. Because of the depth and water pressure, Okene was guided by the dive team into a diving bell which was pressurised and then brought to the surface where he spent 3 days undergoing decompression. His hopes were answered.

(Story from 2023 Business Insider, Mia Jankowicz)

The psalmist sings:

Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears by attentive to my cry for mercy.

What has given birth to this cry is the singers deep pain of their sin against God. A recognition that they need forgiveness, to be saved and to be redeemed (the debt paid).

Forgiveness is certain if we cry out to God, and this is through the gift of Christ’s death and resurrection.

God bless,

Pastor Stephen