This is part of the worship series,
"Come Let Us Worship and Bow Down"
Series Introduction
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4
Week three
Waiting for God
Scripture
New Testament Lesson: John 14:18–27
Text: Psalms 130 and 131
Sermon: Waiting in Weakness
These two brief prayers are next to each other in the Psalter, and each of them includes a reminder to let our souls wait for God.
One or the other of these prayers is probably relevant on almost any day of your life. In times of despair, we wait on the Lord. In times of excitement and achievement, we wait on the Lord. In times of longing and in times of dryness. In times of failure and in times of success. In times of humiliation and in times of pride. In times of need and in times of abundance.
Psalm 130 begins with humility, with the recognition of utter weakness. From the depths of pain and failure—at one of those low, painful, horrible moments in life—the psalmist cries to the Lord and finds help there. Help is available not because of any virtue in us, but because of the steadfast nature of God. Just as the sunrise does not come by virtue of our willing it, so God’s steadfast love is constantly poured out on us without our merit.
Psalm 131 also begins with humility, but this is not the humility of the previous psalm. This is a humility that has been consciously chosen and embraced as a discipline. When things are going well, when we believe that we can achieve anything we set our minds to, then we need to pray this psalm, to remember that our strength is an illusion and our wisdom is as foolishness to God. We need to be willing to be weaned, to see God as a personal being whom we are learning to love rather than primarily or solely as the source of food, the one who fills our orders and meets our wants.
Both psalms lead to an attitude of restful contentment, of trusting hope, based on the knowledge that God is in charge, now and forever.
Liturgical Resources
Call to Worship
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
—Psalm 90:1–2, 14 NRSVUE
Opening Time of Praise
“A Shield About Me” (Psalm 3) Maranatha!
“In Heavenly Love Abiding” (Psalm 23) Waring
“Lead Me, Lord” (Psalms 5:8; 4:8) Wesley
“A Shield About Me” (Psalm 3) Thomas, Williams
Call to Confession
Psalm 130:3–6
Prayer of Confession
“Have Mercy on Us, Living Lord” Anderson
[or read Psalm 51 in unison]
Assurance of Pardon
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.
—Psalm 103:8–14 NRSVUE
Prayer for Illumination: Psalm 119:34
Musical Settings of the Text
Metrical Settings (Psalm 130)
“Out of the Depths” Swets
"From Deepest Woe I Cry" Luther, trans. Winkworth
"Out of the Depths I Cry to You" Psalter 1912
"Out of the Depths I Call"
Choir Anthems
"Out of the Depths" Handel/Hopson, 2 parts
"Out of the Depths" from Requiem, Juhn Rutter (This is difficult, but it covers the entire text of the psalm and accurately captures the mood change from the beginning to the end. If your choir can do it, it's worth attempting.)
Metrical Settings (Psalm 131)
"Lord, My Heart Is Humbled Now" Seerveld
Prayers of the People
Introduce the Prayers of the People with Psalm 33, using either a sung or a spoken refrain. The sung version is from The Celebration Psalter Year A, by Betty Pulkingham. Again, the refrain is sung and the verses may be read or sung.
Refrain (v. 22), sung the first time by soloist or choir
Psalm 33:1–5 (read); Refrain
Psalm 33:6–11 (read); Refrain
Psalm 33:12–17 (read); Refrain
Psalm 33:18–21 (read); Refrain
Prayers of the People Refrain
Benediction
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
—Psalm 67:1–3 NRSVUE
Revised Common Lectionary
Year A, B: Easter—Sixth Sunday of Easter
Year A: Epiphany—Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany
Year A: Lent—Fifth Sunday in Lent
Year A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 3 (8)
Year B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 5 (10)
Year B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 8 (13)
Year B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 14 (19)
