**Out of the Depths: A Story of Hope and Redemption**
In the ancient kingdom of Judah, during the reign of a righteous but troubled king, there lived a man named Eliab. He was a scribe, a keeper of records, and a devout servant of the Lord. Yet, despite his faithfulness, Eliab carried a heavy burden—a sin from his past that haunted him day and night.
Years before, in a moment of weakness, Eliab had betrayed a close friend, revealing a secret that led to the man’s ruin. Though his friend had forgiven him, Eliab could not forgive himself. The weight of his guilt pressed upon him like a stone, and he often cried out to God in the stillness of the night, his voice trembling with sorrow.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the hills of Jerusalem, casting long shadows across the city, Eliab climbed the steps to the temple mount. The priests were offering the evening sacrifice, and the scent of burning incense filled the air. He stood at a distance, unable to bring himself forward, feeling unworthy to approach the holy place.
With tears streaming down his face, he whispered the words that had become his constant prayer:
*”Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.”*
The temple courts were nearly empty, but an old priest named Zadok noticed Eliab’s distress. Moved with compassion, Zadok approached him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
“Why do you weep, my son?” Zadok asked.
Eliab lifted his eyes, his voice barely above a whisper. “Father, I have sinned greatly. My guilt is more than I can bear. I fear the Lord will not hear me.”
Zadok’s face softened. “Have you not read the words of the prophets? The Lord is near to the brokenhearted. Come, let us pray.”
Together, they knelt before the outer courts, and Zadok prayed aloud, his voice steady and sure:
*”If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.”*
As the words washed over him, Eliab felt a warmth spread through his chest, as if a heavy chain had been loosened. He took a deep breath, the first full breath he had drawn in years.
Zadok turned to him and said, “The Lord does not delight in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. His mercy is greater than your sin, my son.”
For days afterward, Eliab returned to the temple, not in despair, but in hope. He waited on the Lord, as a watchman waits for the morning, trusting in the promise of redemption. And in time, the peace of God settled upon him, lifting the shadows of his past.
One morning, as the first light of dawn touched the eastern sky, Eliab stood once more on the temple mount. This time, his heart was light, his spirit renewed. He raised his hands and proclaimed with joy:
*”Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.”*
And from that day forward, Eliab walked in freedom, a living testimony of the depths of God’s mercy and the power of a cry from the heart.
**The End.**
