Psalm 32

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY-

Faith like Job's cannot be shaken because it is the result of having been shaken.

-- Abraham Heschel, Jewish author. Men of Integrity, Vol. 1, no. 2.

PSALM 32

This penitential psalm grew out of David's experiences with the Lord after he had committed adultery and had tried to hide his sins (2 Sam. 11‑12). When you refuse to confess your sins, the Lord must deal with you to bring you to repentance (Prov. 28:13). The longer you wait, the more miserable you will be, as you can see in David's experience. You must face the following:

THE DEBT AGAINST YOU (1‑2). God sees what you do and keeps a record of it. David had covered his sins on earth, but he could not cover the record in heaven. When we confess, God wipes the record clean (1 John 1:9).

THE PAIN WITHIN YOU (3‑5). Sin affects the body, and God's disciplines are painful but needful (Heb. 12: 1 ‑11). David became like an old man carrying a heavy burden.

THE FLOOD AROUND YOU (6‑7). God uses difficult circumstances to bring you back to Himself. In fact, because of his sins, David went through many deep waters with his family.

THE ROAD BEFORE YOU (8‑9). David was like a stubborn animal that needed to be broken. When you are out of the will of God, your decisions will often create problems instead of solve them. The way gets harder

DAVID WENT FROM SILENCE (V. 3) TO SINGING (V. 7) BECAUSE HE FINALLY WAS HONEST WITH GOD AND CONFESSED HIS SINS (VV. 5‑6).

Psalm 32

1 Blessed is he

whose transgressions are forgiven,

whose sins are covered.

2 Blessed is the man

whose sin the Lord does not count against him

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 upon me;

my strength was sapped

as in the heat of summer. Selah

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. Selah

6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you

while you may be found;

surely when the mighty waters rise,

they will not reach him.

7 You are my hiding place;

you will protect me from trouble

and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you and watch over 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 man who trusts in him.

11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;

sing, all you who are upright in heart!