He who acknowledges his position in the abyss cries out, groans, and sighs until he is brought forth from the depths and approaches Him who reigns above all depths. Those who dwell deep in the abyss are such that they do not even utter a cry for help. The Scriptures state, "When the wicked reaches the depths of evil, he despises." Proverbs 18:3 Therefore, brethren, contemplate the abyss where God is disdained. When every person feels overwhelmed by daily transgressions—encumbered by the burdens of iniquity—they dismiss the idea of praying to God with laughter. How does this laughter manifest? First, they might think, "If offenses were truly detestable to God, would I still be alive?" If God were indeed concerned with human actions, given the gravity of my offenses, I surely would not only have continued living but also prospered. This attitude is typical for those who dwell in the abyss yet thrive in their iniquities; for illusory joy ultimately leads to profound misfortune.
O Lord, hear my voice. Let Thine ears be attentive to the sound of my pleas. Psalm 130:2. Where does he find himself crying out? From the deep. Who is making this cry? A transgressor. And on what basis does he express his despair? Because He who has come to forgive sins offers hope even to those lost in their transgressions. Following this thought, "If You, O Lord, keep a close watch on wrongs, O Lord, who could stand?" Psalm 130:3. Thus, he reveals the nature of his depths. For he is submerged under the weight of his iniquities. He does not assert, "I cannot endure it," but rather, "Who can endure it?" He perceives that nearly all of humanity is beset on all sides by its sins, that every conscience bears the burden of its thoughts, and that a pure heart trusting in its righteousness is nearly impossible to find.
Yet, why is there hope? Because there is atonement with You. Psalm 130:4. And what constitutes this atonement but sacrifice? And what is sacrifice but an offering made on our behalf? The spilt blood of the innocent has erased the sins of the guilty; such a tremendous cost has liberated all captives from the grip of their captor. You therefore have atonement. If You had not shown mercy, if You had chosen only to judge and refused to exhibit kindness, You would have scrutinized all our wrongdoings and laid them bare. Who could withstand it? Who could come before You and declare, "I am blameless"? Who could oppose Your judgement? Therefore, there exists but one hope: “For the sake of Your law I have become the voice that proclaims You, O Lord.” What law? The one that renders humanity guilty. The law, which is holy, just, and good, Romans 7:12, was bestowed upon the Jews and in its wake, it rendered them guilty. There was no law given that could impart life, Galatians 3:21, yet it could reveal the sinner's sins. For the sinner has lost sight of himself and does not see his true condition; the law was granted to him that he might regain his vision. It was the law that branded him guilty, yet it is the Lawgiver who liberates him; for the Lawgiver is the Supreme Authority.
There exists, therefore, a law of God's mercy, a law of divine propitiation. One is the law of fear, and the other the law of love. The law of love grants forgiveness of sins, erases the past, and gives warnings for the future; it does not abandon its companion along the way, becoming a steadfast guide to those it directs. However, it is vital to negotiate with the adversary while you remain in his path. Matthew 5:25 For the Word of God stands as your adversary until you reconcile with it. You find reconciliation when you begin to delight in doing what it commands. In that moment, the adversary becomes your ally; and when the journey concludes, no one shall deliver you to the Judge. Thus, for the sake of Your law, I have waited upon You, O Lord, for You have delighted in instituting the law of mercy, forgiving me all my offenses, offering me guidance for the future that I might not transgress.
For the sake of this law, I place my trust in You, Lord. I have waited for You to come and rescue me from every affliction, for even in my distress You have never abandoned the law of mercy. My soul has anticipated Your Word.
Therefore, we place our trust without fear in the promise of Him who cannot deceive. My soul has had faith in the Lord from the morning watch until the night. Psalm 130:5. The morning watch signifies the end of the night. It is important to grasp this concept lest we think we should only trust in Him for a single day. What is meant by this, dear brethren? The implication is that the Lord, through whom our sins are absolved, rose from the dead at dawn, that we might hope for the same resurrection to manifest in us. For our sins are indeed forgiven, yet we have not yet experienced resurrection; if we have not risen, what was accomplished in our Head awaits fulfillment in us. What was accomplished in our Head? The flesh of that Head has been resurrected; did the Spirit of that Head also die? That which perished in Him has been restored. Thus, He rose on the third day, as if He were saying to us, “What you have witnessed in Me, hope for yourselves; in other words, since I have conquered death, you too shall rise.”
However, there are those who assert, "Behold, the Lord is risen," yet wonder whether they too should hope for resurrection. Indeed, that is precisely the reason: for the Lord has risen in that which He has taken from you. He would not have risen unless He had experienced death, and He could not have died without taking on flesh. What did the Lord seek from you? Flesh. What was He who came Himself? The Word of God, the pre-existent source through which all things were created. Yet, to gain something from you, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He took from you all that He could present to you, as a priest accepts offerings to seek propitiation for your sins. It has already been accomplished; it has been done in this manner. Our Priest has taken from us what He could offer for our sake; He received from us flesh and became a sacrifice in that very flesh, transforming it into an offering. In His Passion, He was sacrificed; in His Resurrection, He has renewed what was slain, presenting it as His offspring unto God. He says to you, “All of yourselves are now sanctified, for such offspring from you have been offered unto God; therefore, hope that what has transpired in you shall mirror what has occurred before with your offspring.”
Since He rose at the dawn, our souls have begun to hope from that moment forward: but how long will it continue? Unto the night; until we reach the end of our earthly existence, for even our physical death is, in essence, a slumber.
And he reiterates, “From the morning watch let Israel hope in the Lord.” Let Israel not merely place its hope in God but do so from the morning watch. Do I take issue with the hope that the world places in the Lord? No; however, there exists another hope that belongs to Israel. Let Israel not set its sights on wealth as its ultimate aim, nor on physical health, nor on an abundance of worldly possessions: it will indeed encounter tribulation here, if it endures trials for the sake of truth.
For the Lord is merciful, and His redemption is boundless. Psalm 130:7. How marvelous! This sentiment could not have been better articulated elsewhere, especially with the phrase, "From the morning watch." Why? Because the Lord has arisen at dawn; and thus the flesh should hope for what transpired in the Head. But should such a thought come to mind: the Head arose because He bore no sins, and there was no fault found in Him; what then should we do? Should we aspire to a resurrection akin to that witnessed in the Lord while burdened with our sins? But observe what follows: "And He shall redeem Israel from all their sins." Psalm 130:8. Therefore, although He bore their sins, the mercy of God attends to him. Divine mercy precedes, erasing the sins of those who follow Him. Do not place your hope in yourselves, but hope in the One who watches over the dawn.
THEOSIS