Who Could Stand (Psalm 130:3-4)

Psalm 130:3-4

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.

     Years ago, one could share the gospel with Americans simply by letting them know that God is willing to forgive their sins. People in days gone by knew that there is a God and that they did not live up to his standards. But times have changed. People have changed. And the thought that we are in need of grace is something we need to help others see.

     In the verses above, we see something beautiful and true. Verse 3 declares that, should God keep track of our sins, none of us could stand before him. We are all sinners. Not one of us, no matter how good or how bad, could set ourselves up in the presence of God and survive.

     God is holy. His holiness cannot tolerate the stain of sin. He will not ultimately let any sin go unpunished Nor will he allow the sinful to live in his presence.

     We need to feel the weight of the truth just mentioned. We need to recognize that we cannot stand before God. We are deserving of his judgment. If we do not grasp this point, we will not understand and rejoice in genuine grace.

     Verse 4 says that in God there is forgiveness that he might be feared. God is gracious. He offers forgiveness. Without it, we would be dead forever. With forgiveness, we can stand before the Lord, not because we deserve to, but simply because God is good and kind and gracious. And this truth is to make us fear and worship the Lord.