May 11

Psalm 130
“It’s a hole where you put people to forget about them.” What’s that? If you have ever seen Labyrinth, you might recognize that definition. It might not be an exact quote, but it is close. It is the definition of an oubliette. If I remember correctly, it is a French word, and its etymology does come from a word which means to forget. Apparently they were holes chiseled in rock in the bottom of French dungeons. The only door was in the floor of the dungeon, the ceiling of the oubliette. They would literally drop the inmate into the oubliette. It was the very depths of the dungeon, and there was no way out. One could cry out for help in the oubliette, but the only ones who could hear were the inmates above. Alone, no light, no help, left to sit in your own waste, maybe you would get some bread and water, maybe not. The people of the middle ages indeed had some cruel and unusual punishments.
Ever felt that you were in a spiritual oubliette? Ever been times when you felt spiritually and emotionally that there was absolutely no light or help to be had? Ever felt that the only ones who heard you were other inmates, who were better off than you but powerless to help? “Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.” The glory of the Lord is that He will come to us in those situations. He will be our light, our life, our perfume to take away the stench, our bread to satisfy our hunger and our water to quench our thirst. Though we be in the depths of the oubliette, He will come to us. He will hear our voice; He will forgive our sin out of which our oubliette is carved. He will bring His morning light and with it redemption. Physically the oubliette may remain, but spiritually He is with us with His light. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john