At the conclusion of Jesus’ conversation with Simon the Pharisee in Luke 7, the Lord stated a most significant truth: Those who are forgiven much are those who love much; “but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little” (v. 47). His point at the time was to explain the reason for the vast differences between the way Simon had treated Him (vv. 44-46) and the way a forgiven sinful woman had (vv. 37-38).
The composer of Psalm 130 viewed his salvation from sin as an “abundant redemption” (v. 7). It is clear from the prior verses that he felt a huge debt had been removed from his account with God. He reached this conclusion by meditating upon:
- The horrors of sin. “Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” (vv. 1-3). Sin is like a spiritual black hole from which no one can escape.
- The hopelessness of sin. “No hope” is the terse and simple way the apostle Paul expressed the situation of the Gentiles apart from Christ (Ephesians 2:12). “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning—yes, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord” is the way the composer of Psalm 130 expresses his joyous hope in God’s forgiveness of his sin (vv. 5-7).
“But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared…For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities” (vv. 7-8).
What abundant redemption God has made to remedy the horrors and hopelessness of our sins!
