Advent: Hope | Psalm 130

Devotional

Day 1: Hope begins with honest lament and forgiveness.

The heart of hope begins with an honest lament over sin and a cry for mercy; the psalmist models bringing raw desperation before God rather than masking it. This lament exposes the true problem — not merely life’s troubles but the weight of iniquity — and points to the good news that God’s response is not condemnation but forgiveness. Allowing yourself to name your need opens the door to the very hope Advent proclaims: forgiveness that restores relationship with God. [36:29]

Psalm 130:1-8 (ESV)
Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Reflection: What is one specific sin or habit you have been managing alone instead of confessing to God or a trusted person, and what practical step will you take this week to bring that need into the open and receive God’s forgiveness?

Day 2: Waiting renews strength—rise like eagles.

Waiting in Scripture is active, confident expectation rooted in God’s character, not passive resignation to circumstances. Like watchmen awaiting morning and like those promised in Isaiah, waiting on the Lord leads to renewed strength—lifting, running, and walking sustained by God’s faithful timing. Practicing expectant waiting reorients anxiety into trust grounded in what God has always done. [55:03]

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Reflection: Identify one promise of God you can cling to right now; what is one small, concrete habit (Scripture reading, prayer time, silence, confession) you will adopt this week to shape your waiting into expectant trust?

Day 3: Christ's death and resurrection secure our hope.

The gospel’s core is that Christ died for sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day—facts that secure hope beyond personal effort or circumstantial fixes. This event demonstrates that God does not merely reduce charges against sinners; he pays the penalty in full and brings life where there was death. Trusting this finished work changes how one faces guilt, failure, and the prospect of eternity. [01:02:33]

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (ESV)
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Reflection: In what area of life have you been trying to make amends or earn acceptance instead of resting in Christ’s completed work, and what one confession or action will demonstrate your reliance on his resurrection this week?

Day 4: Jesus is the Lamb who removes sin.

God’s remedy for sin is not merely a lesser penalty or human bargaining; it is Jesus himself—"the Lamb of God"—who takes away the sin of the world by his willing sacrifice. That means forgiveness is not earned but received, and the redeemed are called to live in the freedom that forgiveness creates. Embracing this truth invites both personal confession and bold sharing of the good news with others. [52:36]

John 1:29 (ESV)
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear that Jesus removes sin, and what is one concrete way you will share that truth (an invitation, a conversation, a note) during this Advent season?

Day 5: Sin entered humanity; creation needed redemption.

The Fall shows how deception led to disobedience and introduced fracture into God’s good creation, proving that human efforts alone cannot restore what was lost. Recognizing this beginning helps one see why the gospel’s promise of full redemption is necessary and glorious. The Advent hope points back to the root problem and forward to God’s redeeming work in Christ for all who trust. [34:46]

Genesis 3:1-6 (ESV)
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Reflection: Where do you find yourself believing the serpent’s lies today (self-justification, comparison, distrust of God), and what one truthful promise of God will you meditate on and confess this week to counter that lie?

Sermon Summary

Advent asks us to remember and to wait. We remember the faithfulness of God who kept His promise and sent Jesus, and we wait with expectation for His return. To step into that kind of hope, I walked us through Psalm 130 with four movements: our need for hope, our reason for hope, our response to hope, and our source of hope. Advent hope starts where the psalmist starts—“Out of the depths.” The ache we feel in this world isn’t only about hard circumstances; beneath every symptom is a deeper disease—our sin. If the Lord kept a record of all our iniquities, who could stand? That sober truth humbles and clarifies. It’s why treating surface issues alone won’t heal us.

But the psalm does not leave us there. “With you there is forgiveness.” Hope doesn’t come because we are competent or moral, but because God is gracious and acts in His character—merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. I used my own traffic-stop debacle not to minimize sin, but to show how quickly our hearts justify themselves. In the gospel, God does not reduce the charges or negotiate the penalty; He fully pays it in Christ, wipes the ledger clean, and restores the relationship.

So how do we live in that hope? We wait. Not passively, but like watchmen who know the sun will rise. Biblical waiting is confident expectation rooted in God’s character, not in our control. The psalmist anchors hope to God’s track record: He has been faithful; He will be faithful. Finally, our source of hope is not a plan, a technique, or a feeling—it is the Lord Himself. With Him is steadfast love and plentiful redemption; not partial, not scarce, not for a spiritual elite, but for all who come to Him by faith in Jesus. If you haven’t trusted Christ, Advent is a beautiful time to do so. And if you have, carry this hope into your neighborhood and your relationships—invite, pray, and speak of the Redeemer who came and who will come again.

Key Takeaways

1. Start with honest lament, not denial Our deepest problem isn’t just hard circumstances; it’s the sin that distorts our loves and bends us inward. Advent hope begins when we tell the truth about ourselves before God. Confession isn’t self-loathing; it is the doorway to mercy. It brings us out of managing sin in the dark and into the light where healing begins. [36:29]
2. Forgiveness that rewrites the ledger “With you there is forgiveness” means more than a second chance; it means a new record. God doesn’t negotiate down our guilt—He pays it in full through Jesus and restores fellowship. This reorders our obedience: we don’t behave to be accepted; we are accepted and so we obey. Awe, not anxiety, starts to fuel our discipleship. [52:36]
3. Waiting with watchman-like expectancy Biblical waiting is active trust, not passive resignation. Like watchmen who know dawn will come, we lean on God’s history to steady us in the night. Waiting trains our desires, slows our reflex to control, and makes space for God to act in His timing. Expectation replaces panic because our hope is anchored to His character. [54:17]
4. Hope anchored in God’s character Our confidence rests in the Lord whose steadfast love and plentiful redemption never run dry. He doesn’t meet us halfway; He rescues fully, and that promise extends to all who trust Christ. When circumstances shake, we return to who He is, not how we feel. That is a foundation sturdy enough for any storm. [59:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[25:14] - Advent begins and greetings
[26:07] - Why we practice Advent
[26:48] - Invitations and Christmas Eve plans
[27:25] - Opening prayer of gratitude
[28:47] - Speeding ticket confession
[33:30] - Is there any hope for me?
[34:08] - Four movements: need, reason, response, source
[36:29] - Out of the depths: our need
[48:05] - With you there is forgiveness
[52:36] - Not reduced charges—full pardon
[54:17] - Waiting like watchmen for dawn
[58:07] - Waiting as confident expectation
[59:56] - Steadfast love and plentiful redemption
[62:33] - Jesus our Redeemer and invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
Psalm 130
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Observation questions (3–4)

The psalm opens, "Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord." What kind of situation does the word "depths" describe here, and how does that deepen the meaning of the psalmist's cry? [36:29]
Verse 3 says, "If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" What does the image of God "marking" iniquities communicate about human standing before God? How does that shape the psalmist's honesty? [37:39]
Verse 4 declares, "But with you there is forgiveness." How does this statement change the legal picture the psalmist just painted about sin and guilt? What does it say about God's character? [48:05]
Verses 5–6 compare waiting for the Lord to a watchman waiting for morning. What practical images or actions come to mind from that comparison? How does this watchman image make "waiting" feel different from merely doing nothing? [54:17]

Interpretation questions (3–4)

How should recognizing sin as the underlying "disease" (rather than focusing only on hard circumstances) change the way someone understands their cry "out of the depths"? [40:23]
What is the theological significance of forgiveness being presented as a divine action that fully removes guilt (a rewritten ledger) rather than as a mere reduction of charges? How does that affect a person's relationship with God? [52:36]
How does the watchman image (waiting "more than a watchman for the morning") shape the kind of expectation the psalmist has for God's timing? In what ways does this expectation differ from anxious, self-driven attempts to control outcomes? [54:17]
Verses 7–8 say God offers "steadfast love" and "plentiful redemption" and will redeem from "all his iniquities." What do these phrases teach about the scope and sufficiency of God's rescue, and who is included in that promise? [01:01:46]

Application questions (4–7)

Advent hope begins with honest lament: "Have you come to terms with your deep spiritual need?" When was the last time you confessed sin honestly to God or to a trusted friend, and what keeps you from doing that more often? [46:36]
Forgiveness here is not bargaining but full pardon. Think of one area where you have been trying to "pay your own fine" or manage guilt. What would it look like this week to bring that to Christ and accept his full forgiveness? [52:36]
Waiting is active trust. Which specific promise of God are you currently clinging to, and what are three concrete practices you can use this week to "wait like a watchman" on that promise (for example: set regular short prayers, memorize a verse, or pause before a reactive decision)? [54:17]
Hope is anchored in God's character, not circumstances. When hard news or a setback shakes you, what short Scripture phrase or truth about God's steadfast love and redemption will you return to? Write it down and decide when you will speak it aloud this week. [59:56]
The hope of redemption is meant to be shared. Who is one person you can invite to a Christmas service or to hear the gospel this season? What will you say to them, and when will you contact them? [01:04:17]
Is there a specific sin or relational wound you need to bring into the light (confess or ask forgiveness about) so healing can begin? What is the next concrete step you will take and when will you do it? [53:21]

Sermon Clips

Over the years, I have had a number of people ask me, James, is there any hope for me? Now, admittedly, most people who ask me this question are not asking me the question because of some failed dream of being a race car driver. Instead, they are asking that question because they are having experiences in life that seem a whole lot more significant than receiving a speeding ticket. They are facing a relationship that is not getting any better. They are wrestling through or with depression or anxiety. They are wondering if they will ever be able to shake the shame of decisions that they have made and they wish they could take back. [00:32:42] (48 seconds) #ThereIsHopeForYou

They are wondering if they will ever actually change. Maybe they are wondering if they will ever experience physical healing in life. If you are here this morning and you have ever felt stuck or you have ever arrived at a dead end or maybe you have hit rock bottom, maybe you have asked that question before. Is there any hope for me? And so this morning, I want us to think about that question through the lens of the psalmist. And I want to do that by asking four questions or thinking about four ideas, rather. I want us to think about our need for hope, our reason for hope, our response to hope, and lastly, our source of hope. [00:33:30] (49 seconds) #FourFoundationsOfHope

If you were to describe the story of Scripture in four words, you could use the four words or idea of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. Creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. If you're here this morning and you're not familiar with the story of Scripture, if you're new to the faith or exploring the faith, and you don't understand this big book, four words to describe or explain God's story is creation. God created the world in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. Sin enters into the world in Genesis chapter 3. Really, the rest of God's story is the fallout of the fall and the work of God in redeeming and restoring a creation back unto Himself. [00:34:50] (45 seconds) #StoryInFourWords

And so those are our categories. When we think about the idea of hope and why we need hope, it's because the world that we live in has been tarnished by sin, not just the sin of others, but our own sin and brokenness. And so the life that you live and the life that I live on planet Earth is a life that has been impacted and affected by sin. And so the feeling of desperation that oftentimes we feel, the point in life that we get to where we're going, is there any hope for me, comes as a result of living in a fallen and a broken world. [00:35:36] (38 seconds) #LivingInAFallenWorld

Have you ever been there before? Has there ever been a time in your life when you have hit what you believe to be rock bottom and cried out to the Lord? God, I cry out to you. Hear my voice. Let your ear be attentive. God, listen to me. Have mercy on me. This is a place of desperation. We've all been desperate. If you haven't been desperate yet, I assure you that one day you will be. So notice after this cry out to the Lord, the psalmist is going to identify the source of the problem. In other words, what causes his desperation? [00:36:52] (47 seconds) #CryToTheLord

In other words, Lord, if you were to add up all my sins, if you were to have a track record of all the things that I've said or done or thought over the years, then no one would stand a chance. This is true generally of all of us. This is true specifically of each and every one of us. If our sins were like a ledger, if God were to keep track of each and every one of them, if we were to stand before him apart from Jesus, none of us would stand a chance. [00:37:47] (42 seconds) #AllNeedRedeemer

And so oftentimes in life, when we think about hope, we think about it in the context of some issue or difficulty we're facing. And maybe it's a financial difficulty, and we think to ourselves, Man, I'm in a rock and a hard place. I find myself in a situation that I can't fix or get out of. Maybe we think about hope in the context of relational challenges. Maybe it's a marriage or a friendship that has gone awry, and we're crying out to the Lord going, God, you need to fix this thing because I can't. Maybe it is a health concern where you have received a diagnosis, and you can't fix it. You can't make yourself well. And so oftentimes when we think about hope, we think about it in connection or in context of a circumstance that we're facing in life. And all of those circumstances are significant. God cares about your financial difficulty. He cares about your relationship that has taken an unexpected turn. He cares about your personal health and wellness. God cares about those things. I don't want to minimize those challenges this morning. But those are not the problems that the psalmist is addressing here. [00:38:29] (81 seconds) #HopeBeyondCircumstance

Did you notice what the issue is that the psalmist is facing? It's the same issue that you and I face. It's so important that we pay close attention to this because if not, what we end up doing in life is treating our symptoms and not our disease. And so the psalmist is going to point out that the reason that we're desperate for hope is because of our sinfulness, because of our brokenness. That is the main issue that we face. [00:39:50] (38 seconds) #AddressTheRoot

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