A Devo From Scot - Psalm 130

Dear Church,

I hope it’s not off-putting to start with arrogance as a subject. Because I would like to make my way to another Psalm and encourage you to read it, I need to begin with a specific type of arrogance that Paul mentions in the New Testament. The irony is pretty thick around the subject. Arrogantly, we tend to only see arrogance in others. In great blindness, we fail to often see even the more blatant displays of arrogance and conceit in ourselves, not to mention the more subtle, hidden and interior forms. But more to the point.

Paul takes three whole chapters of his letter to the church in Rome to clearly link and differentiate Israel and the Church, making clear that the church has not replaced God’s plan or purposes for Israel, nor any of His covenant promises to them. We, the post-cross, post-resurrection, post-Pentecost church, have been grafted into Israel. “But if some of the branches were broken off (disobedient Israel), and you (the church) being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.” (Romans 11:17-18)

I realize this is a weird introduction to a Psalm, but stick with me. You, if you are a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ, have been grafted into the beauty, covenants and future blessings of Israel, God’s people. The church hasn’t replaced Israel, but we share in her blessings. Wow.

Okay, all that to preface an invitation to read Psalm 130, another of the Psalms of Ascent.

Often, you might be tempted to read the Bible as an individual, personally. Of course this is completely valid and welcome. But there are many surprising corporate and plural expressions in God’s Word; a shocking number of them in fact. Notice in Psalm 130 the transition from the singular to the plural, from the individual “Out of the depths I have cried out to You, O LORD,” to the corporate “O Israel, hope in the LORD.”

Let your heart embrace not only your individual intimacy with your Heavenly Father (of which Psalm 130 has some magnificent things to say), but also the beauty of the church and God’s unfailing calling and commitment to His people Israel, into which we are grafted. This full embrace has the added bonus of weakening arrogance of all kinds.

You need intimacy with Jesus. Of that there is no substitute. You also need other believers. We need each other. There’s also no substitute for the family of God.

I love you church.

Scot