As we approach the Season of Lent this week, the psalm selection from the Lectionary for the week of Ash Wednesday is one of David’s penitential psalms. Most Christians are familiar with Psalm 51, David’s great song of repentance and sorrow over the terrible sins he had committed. Today’s psalm, Psalm 32, is also one of penitence. It also describes what it’s like before one repents and confesses their sins, and the blessedness that follows after repentance and confession. David knew this from first-hand experience, and God teaches this truth from His Word with us today.
Throughout his life, the Lord taught David important lessons about repentance and forgiveness of sins. These are outlined throughout Psalm 32. We see the results of sin in our life, and what happens to us when we resist repentance (vs. 3-4, 9). The Lord also shows us here what happens when one responds to His conviction and when He forgives us (vs. 5-8, 10-11).
God wants to forgive sinners. He told it to Moses, telling him that He forgives the iniquities, transgressions, and sins to thousands who confess, showing them mercy (Exodus 34:7). The Lord God showed it to the world in the greatest way possible through the death of Jesus on the Cross. For this reason, confession should be a priority with believers (Proverbs 28:13; I John 1:8-9).
Sinning is common to all humankind. There isn’t a one of us that doesn’t do something wrong and sinful each day. However, we frequently just sweep them under the rug, and try to forget about it, especially if they aren’t what we would consider big and terrible sins. Yet old wrongs have a way of catching up with us (Numbers 32:23). Old sins that have not been dealt with can lead to serious consequences. Confessing our wrongs restores our fellowship with the Lord. We then can enjoy His forgiveness. We can’t always undo our actions, but as Christians, we can know that we are forgiven (vs. 1-2). In God’s eyes, it is as if they had never been done.
David knew what it was like to put off repenting and confessing his sins. He went about a year without coming to the Lord with his sin of adultery with Bathsheba, and intentionally having her husband die in battle. He experienced the physical toll it took on his body. When we refuse to deal with sin, the results of our wrong-doing can feel consuming (vs. 3-4). There are physical results from refusing to repent from sin. During that time of spiritual stubbornness, David experienced the consuming consequences of his own sinful choices. In such times, we need to turn to God for help.
Confession is agreeing with God, acknowledging that He is right to declare that what we have done is sinful, and that we were wrong to do it (vs. 5). Refusing to repent is an affront to the Person of God. We then need to abandon that sin and follow God more faithfully. Refusing to confess sin makes us miserable, weak, discouraged, and isolated from God. It damages our fellowship with Him. Some people refuse to allow God to guide them. If He wants to keep them useful to Him, then God has no other recourse but to use discipline and punishment (vs. 9). God wants to guide us with love and wisdom, rather than punishment. Don’t let your stubbornness keep you from obeying God.
When we repent and confess, our fellowship with the Lord is restored, and our “prayer line” is now unhindered. We need to be sure it remains that way, as we never know when the storms of life will hit us (vs. 6). We need to always keep our prayer life well-oiled at all times and in all situations.
David thought of the Lord God as his hiding place (vs. 7). A hiding place is critical during the storms life brings. God is the perfect hiding place. He, alone, is our spiritual and emotional shelter. When fear drives us to despair, God comforts, strengthens, and calms us. He is our Father, who has His loving eye on us (vs. 8). He provides all that we need, and protects us. We can take refuge in the shadow of His Wing. God will teach us and reveal His path, while remaining by our side as our caregiver through everything we go through.
Who is your guide in life? Is it someone who is eternally trustworthy? If our guide isn’t trustworthy, if we cannot put our complete faith in them, we’ll end up eternally lost (vs. 10). Be sure that you have put your trust in the only One who is eternally trustworthy!
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