DCLM Daily Manna 2025: DCLM Daily Manna 21 October 2025: The Lord is My Shepherd
Text: Psalm 130:4–8 (KJV)
But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
And in His word I do hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord
More than those who watch for the morning—
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is mercy,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
8 And He shall redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.
KEY VERSE: “But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” – (Psalm 130:4)
The story of John Newton, a former slave trader who experienced a profound spiritual awakening during a storm at sea in 1748, demonstrates how a heartfelt cry can change the destiny of anyone. This fearful event led John Newton to renounce his former life and become a Christian minister and an anti-slavery abolitionist. His passionate cry for God’s mercy is reflected in the hymn he composed, “Amazing Grace,” which speaks of the depths of despair and the joy of redemption. His story is a testament to how God can intervene in our desperate situations so we can experience the transformative power of divine grace, as illustrated in our passage today.
This penitential Psalm is one of the fifteen “songs of degrees”, five written by David and Solomon, as indicated on their titles, while the remaining ten are anonymous, though believed by many to be connected to King Hezekiah. They are titled “songs of degrees” to denote either the Jewish tradition of the choir ascending the flight of the temple stairs while the hymns are being sung, or indicating the stages of pilgrimage to Jerusalem and sung by travellers on their way to the annual feasts. Or, as the word “ascent” means “song in the higher choir,” the hymns were meant to depict the singers on some high place or to signify their peculiar musical composition where the notes rise by degrees of succession.
Here, the psalmist cries out to God “out of the depths” of despair, confirming that prayers can reach the heights of heaven from whatever depths of the greatest trouble one can be in this world, as did Jeremiah’s prayer out of the dungeon, Daniel’s prayer out of the den, and Jonah’s prayer out of the fish’s belly. God is willing to show mercy to all who face troubles, especially saving them from the slavery of sin to show His love, care, and goodness.
To enjoy God’s forgiveness and mercy, you must appropriate the benefits of the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ, whose blood, shed at Calvary, solely secures full redemption for all who come to Him in penitence. There should be no room for despair, distress, and hopelessness since we have the assurance that our passionate plea to the Lord will draw down divine help in our moment of need.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Mercy is an attribute by which God bestows more than you deserve.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 1–2
Daily Manna 21 October 2025
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