THE UPS AND DOWNS OF LIFE (Psalm 130)

Every life has its ups and downs.

There are times in life when you feel as if you are on a roller coaster. There is a great moment of victory, blessing, and joy that seems to be followed immediately by conflict and trouble. In fact, even in the psalms, you see that ebb and flow.

For example:

• In Psalm 126 we read of great victory. Cyrus, king of Persia, said to the children of Israel that they could go back home. They rejoiced and sang their way back to Jerusalem.
• In Psalms 127-128, they had returned and were rebuilding as the Lord prospered them and their families grew.
• The context of Psalm 129 is opposition and warfare, some of which they faced upon their return. Just getting back to Jerusalem did not mean the battle was over. They were opposed by some and mocked by others.

There are always ups and downs in life. That fact sets the stage for Psalm 130, which begins this way in verse 1: “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.”

This unknown Psalmist was having a rough day. He was in a low place, walking through the valley.

Notice that he was not concentrating on being in the depths but on how to get out of them. God is with us wherever we are, but He is never weak, tired, or incapable. The Psalmist knew to cry out to the One who was higher than all else.

Aren’t you glad that God is not just a God of the mountain but also of the valley? He is with you when you are up and also when you are down. He is always the same even though we are not. Our lives see constant change, but the Lord is unchanging.

Psalm 130 is a song of degrees which reminds us that even in our ascending life, where we attempt to reach the presence of God and walk on a high plane with Him, there are moments when we are down.

Whatever valley you are passing through right now, you will not stay there. You are going through to the other side, and the Lord wants to work while you are in the midst of this deep place to do something deep within your heart.

This psalm is not just emotional. It is extremely practical. If all you see is the emotion of it, you’ve missed the point. God wants us to get beyond that to the truth, which is that there is actually something you can do when you are down.

You can still pray

Verses 1-2: “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.”

The Lord’s ear is open to you at all times. He does not answer your prayer because you are having a good day; He does it because He is a good God. You can never be in such a deep place that He cannot hear you.

When Jonah was at the bottom of the sea in the belly of the great fish, out of those depths, he cried to the Lord, and his prayer was answered. When you are in a deep place, don’t talk first to others around you, although that is what we are tempted to do. Talk to the Lord first.

You can rehearse His forgiveness

Verses 3-4: “If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.”

In deep places we have cause to examine ourselves, to search our hearts. “Lord, is there anything between me and You? Is there something in me that has given You cause to deal with me?”

If the answer to those questions is no, then instead of listening to your accuser and the lies he is whispering in your ear, rehearse the goodness of God and His forgiveness in your life.

The question posed by the psalmist in verse 3 is one we can all understand. If God were keeping score, we would all be in trouble. If there were a wall with marks for your sin, imagine what it would look like.

Thankfully, that wall has been covered with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is what makes the statement about forgiveness in verse 4 possible. When you are down, don’t dwell on your memories of past sins or the devil’s accusing thoughts. Go back and rehearse the forgiveness of God.

Some people think this emphasis on forgiveness is a license to sin. On the contrary, when you realize what you have been forgiven of, there is a gratitude in you and a fear of God that makes you remember how good He has been and desire to live a holy life.

You can wait on God

Verses 5-6: “I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.”

This is a picture of being not only in the depths but in the dark — in the middle of the night, waiting for the morning but certain that it will come. Remember that this is not the end of it all. Wait on the Lord because He is at work.

The word “wait” is found several times in these verses, and it is not our favorite word because it is not our favorite thing to do. So, let me give you a practical suggestion about how to wait.

Notice the phrase “in his word do I hope” in verse 5. The Word helps you wait. When you are waiting on God’s deliverance, spend more time in His Word. It will increase your faith and give you fresh courage to just wait on God.

You can put your hope in Him

Verses 7-8: “Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.”

Make a conscious decision today that you are not going to live in despair, but you are going to live in hope, even in the depths. Go back to God’s character and promises. Remember that regardless of what kind of day you are having, the Lord is always the same.

Remember God and hope in Him.