I. The Word: Psalm 32.
1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Reflection Questions:
[1] Do you know the blessedness of one whose sin is covered/washed clean?
[2] Have you acknowledged your sin to God, such that you have an open line of communication with Him?
[3] Does anything hinder your prayers? If so, why?
[4] Is God your hiding place and ultimate security (as David could truly say)?
By Jason Schezer
We need to be sure, as verse 1 above says, that our transgressions are forgiven and our sins are covered. Only through true repentance can we see our sins rightly covered. True repentance must involve admitting to God that we are wrong, turning away from sin by His power, with the eyes of our heart opened/enlightened to see Him, and turning toward Him in obedience and trust.
Sin has a mighty stranglehold on our whole human race. In Genesis chapter 4, there is mention of two of the sons of Adam and Even, namely Cain and Abel. Cain’s sacrifice is not accepted, yet Abel’s was accepted because Cain’s was not exactly God’s expectation. Genesis 4:6-7 reads: “Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
God knew the heart condition of Cain, and as it turns out, Cain proceeded to become the first murderer, as recorded for us in Genesis. His punishment was severe: the earth would no longer yield any crops for Cain so that he would not be able to cultivate any food, and he became a restless wanderer on the earth. Despite the severe punishment, God had mercy on Cain, placing a seal on his forehead so that no one could kill him in vengeance. That sin nature passed uninterrupted from Adam to his offspring is quite manifest.
Cain did experience a measure of mercy from God. Yet David experienced an exceedingly greater measure, which is undoubtedly related to his transparent, thoroughgoing, pure confession. It is a no excuses confession; a full admission of wrongdoing.
It is imperative that we do not brush over too lightly the seriousness of our sin condition. Thomas a Kempis wrote these striking words concerning God’s right judgment of sin: “In all things consider the end; how you shall stand before the strict Judge from Whom nothing is hidden and Who will pronounce judgment in all justice, accepting neither bribes nor excuses. And you, miserable and wretched sinner, who fear even the countenance of an angry man, what answer will you make to the God Who knows all your sins?” -Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, chapter 24. These may seem to be exceptionally harsh words at face value, which were written many centuries ago. To be sure, Thomas a Kempis’ writings are of tremendous value to the Church, though it is not Scripture. Harsh, perhaps, yet it is necessary to consider the healthy fear of God that every believer needs to have. Deal with sin appropriately, allowing Christ to place your sin on Himself, and you have eternal blessedness. Sweep it under the rug, and you have not your sins covered, as David’s sin was genuinely covered by Divine mercy. Give thanks to the Lord, that if we are truly reconciled to Him through Christ, then we have absolutely nothing to fear in judgment.
Notice again verse 7 above. God earnestly desires, even craves to be your hiding place today; your ultimate and unmatched place of safety; your soul’s place of rest. Oh that His perfect love would cast out all fear (1 John 4:18). This mighty verse, Psalm 32:7, not only tells us that the LORD is our hiding place and protects us from trouble; it also redirects our gaze to turn the corner, as it were to look upon the way that God thinks of His children: “…Surround me with songs of deliverance.” Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love, he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Application
Allow God to search your heart and see if there is an area that you have need of Him to do His sanctifying work. Give Him Lordship of each area. But then do not dwell on the sin, and rather let Him rejoice over you and enjoy you as His child. He handled the unimaginable pain of the sin so that we do not have to bear it for eternity.
Prayer
Father in heaven, blessed is Your name that You are such a good God to us! Thank you for Jesus, who became sin for us so that we can become Your righteousness in Him. You desire to be my hiding place, so let it be so. Reveal to me if I have any need to confess sin, or area of unrepentant sin that keeps me from pure fellowship with You. Let me truly hear your voice speaking into my life this day. Lead me to the glorious cross of my Savior who dealt with my sin condition and gave me liberty, new life, and adoption into Your family. Amen.
City Life Starter 
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