Psalm 120

In 2001, I was on the pastoral team at Forest Lake Academy in Orlando, Florida as one of the chaplains and Bible teachers. One day in early 2002, during freshman Bible class, we were talking about the Biblical views of grace and forgiveness. 

That morning we spent the majority of the class wrestling with the questions of who deserves to be forgiven - how to extend grace to an enemy or just someone who hurt you - knowing or unknowingly? what does it mean to be a Christian? what does it mean to see grace in action?

Finally, after this discussion, we sat down to define the terms grace and forgiveness. Once we gave the words definitions, it was much easier to apply them to the situations we were wrestling with. 

For the student whose parents had recently divorced and was struggling with the loss, grace and forgiveness took on new life. For the student who had recently come to admit their childhood sexual abuse, grace and forgiveness took on new life. For their pastor who had recently separated from his wife, grace and forgiveness took on new life.

Last week we began our summer series on the Psalms of the Ascent. Psalms 120-134 are a collection of songs, poems, and thoughts which were recited as people would journey up to Jerusalem for various feasts. This first Psalm reminds the traveler of the true state of their heart, and more importantly, of God's invitation to be in their presence. It's also a reminder of God's willingness to show up - no matter what. 

This is the core of both grace and forgiveness; God’s willingness to show up no matter what.

God's willingness to forgive what I believe is unforgivable. 

God's willingness to love me when I can’t love myself.

Psalms 120:1

"I cried to the Lord in my trouble, and He answered me."

~ Pastor Jackie