In our readings of Psalm 128 we discovered that Blessed are all who fear the Lord. (Psalm 128:1) and we discussed what it means to fear the Lord. In Psalm 130, the psalmist also mentions this subject. He says:
4 But you offer forgiveness,
that we might learn to fear you.
Have you ever wondered what comes first – the fear of God or the forgiveness? Surely one needs to be God-fearing before they can receive any sort of forgiveness from Him? Well, it’s interesting but that does not appear to be what the psalmist is suggesting here.
In this psalm forgiveness appears to be the purpose of the psalmist’s prayer. He is crying out from the depths of despair for God’s forgiveness and deliverance. Brueggemann calls it “the center of the entire prayer.”He then goes on to say:
“The surprise of that conviction is what follows. One might imagine that forgiveness serves to open things up to joy and freedom, that forgiveness is the key intent of the transaction, the pivot on which everything in the future depends. But it is not. Forgiveness is instrumental to the real purpose: [that we might learn to fear you].
One might have expected things in reverse sequence. One might have thought fearing Yahweh would be a ground for forgiveness. But this psalm scandalizes all our calculating notions of religion. The move comes the other way; the gift goes before the obedience. The result is that the heard beggar fears the king. The psalm surely suggests that as the relationship is transformed, so the depths are transformed as well.” (# 2)
Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, writes of a similar transaction between God and ourselves. He writes:
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:4-9)
The psalmist speaks of calling out to God from the depths of despair [of sin] and then of receiving His forgiveness resulting in him learning to fear God. Paul writes of being dead in transgressions, and yet God still coming to his aid and by the riches of his grace… the gift of God, providing salvation [being saved], and none of this being from ourselves. The end result being a right relationship with God, i.e., fearing the Lord and being raised us up with Christ.
And where does all this lead? As we continue in this Psalm, we see one key word which sums it up – hope! And so, the psalmist says:
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.
Brueggemann continues:
“The terms wait and hope are rough synonyms. The waiting – hoping is like a watchman at night, waiting early and expectantly for the relief that comes with daybreak. Fear of Yahweh means to have confidence that things as they are (in the depth), are not as they will be. Life will be transformed. Forgiveness leads to liberation from life as it is presently organized… [not only for the] speaker in the depth [but] for the whole community… the rescue and forgiveness of one ‘feared’ permit the whole community to have new life [vv. 7-8].” (# 2)
Do you have hope today? Have you experienced these incomparable riches of [God’s] grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus? If not, cry out to God today and experience his forgiveness. Then go on and learn to fear the Lord.
Worship and Wisdom - Psalms and Proverbs 