crying in hope
“Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.” (Psalm 130:1–2, NIV)
“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” (Romans 15:1–4, NIV)
Psalm 130 is a song of hope, even though this first couple of verses doesn’t look like it at first glance. Where is the writer when he cries? Who is he crying to? What are his request(s)?
When in trouble we can cry to the Lord. (From Judy Olson): During this COVID pandemic I take my temperature every morning, Each day I wonder which day if my temperature will show that I am sick. So far, so good! However I really need hope! Is there something in your life that shows you need hope today? What gives you hope from the first few verses of Psalm 130?
The Romans passage also talks about hope. But first it talks about the “strong” and the “weak”. Who are the "strong" and who are the “weak”? (Note: it may be helpful to read all of Romans 14 to understand what Paul is talking about)
What are the strong supposed to be doing? What are “each of us” (strong and weak) supposed to be doing? According to Paul, who is our example of doing that?
Is this easy for you, hard for you, or “it depends”? What would make it easier for you to do so? What would make you more willing to do so?
Paul says, for everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. How has scripture taught you? Not everyone in scripture did the right thing. How did that teach you?
Fill in the blanks: so that through the ______________ taught in the Scriptures and the __________ they provide we might have ______. How are the characteristics in these three blanks related?
What does this tell you about hope?