Saturday - Psalm 32
This Psalm is one of the seven penitential Psalms, the others being Psalms 6, 38, 51, 102, 130 and 143. The language of Psalm 32 is a mixture of joy and despair. The Psalm is structured so that you have a pattern of A, B, C, D, B, C, A - which flows as follows
Blessing of sins forgiven - verses 1-2
Lesson from Experience - verses 3-5
God's Protection - verses 6-7
Promise of Wisdom - verse 8
Lesson from Experience - verse 9
God's Protection - verse 10
Rejoicing in forgiveness - verse 11
The Promise of God in v8 is the centre of the Psalm, the forgiveness of sin flows from this.
Verses 1-2 we have here the repetition of blessing, three synonyms for sin and a threefold expression of forgiveness, the assurance of forgiveness is promised to the person 'in whose spirit there is no deceit' (verse 2). In these two verses we read that forgiveness is freely given to cover sin, transgression and iniquity. Transgression is an act of rebellion and disloyalty, sin is an act that deliberately, intentionally, misses the expressed and revealed will of God and iniquity is a crooked or wrong act, often associated with a conscious and intentional intent to do wrong. They give an overall picture of sin, not three distinct groups of sin. The Psalmist declares, whatever the sin, there is forgiveness available from God. The nature of the sin is insignificant compared the blessing of forgiveness available. The Psalmist says 'are forgiven' - literally carried away, an act of removal of sin, guilt and the remembrance of the sin. He also states that the sins 'are covered' - which is the gracious act of atonement by which the sinner is reconciled and the sin is a matter of the past, so that the Lord God does not bring it up anymore as a ground for His displeasure. I think we should note the last sentence of verse 2 because it is very significant when it comes to forgiveness. God knows the heart or spirit of every man and in this sentence there is a warning that God knows if the repentance is genuine or not. God knows those whose spirit is true and those who have deceit hidden in their heart. He knows those who truly repent and those who are sorry because they have been caught but not truly sorry for their sin.
Verses 3-5 Lesson from Experience. The Psalmist draws from his own experience to encourage the pursuit of godliness. This may have emerged from David's experience of sin with Bathsheba. He learned that un-confessed sin is a festering sore. The depiction of the suffering is quite graphic as the strength is sapped from the Psalmist. The heaviness of the conviction of sin lays him low and we should note that there was no relief from this conviction - it was constant all day long. Then in verse 5 he speaks of true repentance of sin. He confesses all his sin, displayed in the different words he uses to describe sin. The three synonyms for sin are matched by three synonyms for forgiveness and the three verbs used for confession. He acknowledges, he does not seek to cover up and he confesses his sin. The exact nature of his sin is not revealed because his intention is to teach the joy experienced in the forgiveness of sins by God.
God's Protection - verses 6-7 the wise in heart draw near to God in adversity (v6) through prayer and in Him they find solace (v6-7). He encourages us to draw near to God because in God we find refuge and protection and finally deliverance from adversity. He is our 'hiding place' and therefore we shout of God's faithfulness to us in the midst and through such circumstances. Verse 8 The Promise of Wisdom - here is a word from the Lord God. The personal pronoun 'I' does not come from the mouth of the Psalmist but from the Lord God. God promises to instruct his children, to give them wisdom and to watch over them. The pattern of 'threes' is repeated here - instruct - to give insight, understanding, (2) teach - to instruct and is derived from the noun 'torah' and (3) counsel - to give advice. Verse 9 Lesson from Experience - the psalmist expands the word from God by alluding to the world of nature. Animals such as mules and horses are useful, they carry heavy loads etc but they must be bridled in order to be controlled. The Psalmist says that those who are wise will draw near to God and follow his path of holiness, godliness and righteousness and will not need the restraints of a bridle to keep them in check. Verse 10 - God's Protection - this verse repeats verses 6-7 and gives an assurance of God's love and protection to those who trust in him. The requirement of 'trust' is equivalent to the expression of reliance on God in verse 7. The wise will experience God's protection and love.
Verse 11 - Rejoicing in God's Forgiveness. The Psalm concludes with an exhortation to rejoice, but it is not a vain thing. It is not that the Psalmist calls us to rejoice when we do not feel like it. It is from the knowledge and experience of being released from the burden of sin and the consequences of sin that our hearts are filled with joy in the love and protection of God. It is from the knowledge and experience of God's grace working in our lives that we lift our hearts in praise - the upright in heart speaks of our forgiveness and cleansing - there is no greater reason to sing!
Amen.
Blessing of sins forgiven - verses 1-2
Lesson from Experience - verses 3-5
God's Protection - verses 6-7
Promise of Wisdom - verse 8
Lesson from Experience - verse 9
God's Protection - verse 10
Rejoicing in forgiveness - verse 11
The Promise of God in v8 is the centre of the Psalm, the forgiveness of sin flows from this.
Verses 1-2 we have here the repetition of blessing, three synonyms for sin and a threefold expression of forgiveness, the assurance of forgiveness is promised to the person 'in whose spirit there is no deceit' (verse 2). In these two verses we read that forgiveness is freely given to cover sin, transgression and iniquity. Transgression is an act of rebellion and disloyalty, sin is an act that deliberately, intentionally, misses the expressed and revealed will of God and iniquity is a crooked or wrong act, often associated with a conscious and intentional intent to do wrong. They give an overall picture of sin, not three distinct groups of sin. The Psalmist declares, whatever the sin, there is forgiveness available from God. The nature of the sin is insignificant compared the blessing of forgiveness available. The Psalmist says 'are forgiven' - literally carried away, an act of removal of sin, guilt and the remembrance of the sin. He also states that the sins 'are covered' - which is the gracious act of atonement by which the sinner is reconciled and the sin is a matter of the past, so that the Lord God does not bring it up anymore as a ground for His displeasure. I think we should note the last sentence of verse 2 because it is very significant when it comes to forgiveness. God knows the heart or spirit of every man and in this sentence there is a warning that God knows if the repentance is genuine or not. God knows those whose spirit is true and those who have deceit hidden in their heart. He knows those who truly repent and those who are sorry because they have been caught but not truly sorry for their sin.
Verses 3-5 Lesson from Experience. The Psalmist draws from his own experience to encourage the pursuit of godliness. This may have emerged from David's experience of sin with Bathsheba. He learned that un-confessed sin is a festering sore. The depiction of the suffering is quite graphic as the strength is sapped from the Psalmist. The heaviness of the conviction of sin lays him low and we should note that there was no relief from this conviction - it was constant all day long. Then in verse 5 he speaks of true repentance of sin. He confesses all his sin, displayed in the different words he uses to describe sin. The three synonyms for sin are matched by three synonyms for forgiveness and the three verbs used for confession. He acknowledges, he does not seek to cover up and he confesses his sin. The exact nature of his sin is not revealed because his intention is to teach the joy experienced in the forgiveness of sins by God.
God's Protection - verses 6-7 the wise in heart draw near to God in adversity (v6) through prayer and in Him they find solace (v6-7). He encourages us to draw near to God because in God we find refuge and protection and finally deliverance from adversity. He is our 'hiding place' and therefore we shout of God's faithfulness to us in the midst and through such circumstances. Verse 8 The Promise of Wisdom - here is a word from the Lord God. The personal pronoun 'I' does not come from the mouth of the Psalmist but from the Lord God. God promises to instruct his children, to give them wisdom and to watch over them. The pattern of 'threes' is repeated here - instruct - to give insight, understanding, (2) teach - to instruct and is derived from the noun 'torah' and (3) counsel - to give advice. Verse 9 Lesson from Experience - the psalmist expands the word from God by alluding to the world of nature. Animals such as mules and horses are useful, they carry heavy loads etc but they must be bridled in order to be controlled. The Psalmist says that those who are wise will draw near to God and follow his path of holiness, godliness and righteousness and will not need the restraints of a bridle to keep them in check. Verse 10 - God's Protection - this verse repeats verses 6-7 and gives an assurance of God's love and protection to those who trust in him. The requirement of 'trust' is equivalent to the expression of reliance on God in verse 7. The wise will experience God's protection and love.
Verse 11 - Rejoicing in God's Forgiveness. The Psalm concludes with an exhortation to rejoice, but it is not a vain thing. It is not that the Psalmist calls us to rejoice when we do not feel like it. It is from the knowledge and experience of being released from the burden of sin and the consequences of sin that our hearts are filled with joy in the love and protection of God. It is from the knowledge and experience of God's grace working in our lives that we lift our hearts in praise - the upright in heart speaks of our forgiveness and cleansing - there is no greater reason to sing!
Amen.