Scripture to Read: Psalm 130:7–8
God used the psalmist to end his song with a word of encouragement to the nation of Israel. We read in Psalm 130:7–8, “O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption. 8 And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” The reason Israel and everyone else should hope in the Lord is because only through Him do we receive His everlasting lovingkindness. Only God, through Christ, can love us with an everlasting love. Only God, through Christ, can offer us redemption from our sins. To be redeemed means to be purchased out of a slave market and set free. Those without Christ are still enslaved (in bondage) to their sins. God describes how people without Christ live in many Scriptures. One example is found in Ephesians 2:1–3, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.” Of course, God used Paul to remind Christians who we used to be, but Ephesians 2:1–3 allows us to see that those without Christ are still in bondage to their flesh. God came to redeem (set free) everyone who puts their hope in Him.
Challenge & Application
· How would you explain to someone that Christ is their only hope for being set free from their slavery to this world?
· How are you enjoying your freedom in Christ and guarding against walking with this world?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!