Graciously Forgiven pt. 2
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Intro.
Intro.
Last week, as we looked at the first half of Psalm 32, we saw quite a bit of good stuff.
We looked at how David is saying the one forgiven of transgression is joyful
We looked at the life of David, and the great forgiveness he had experienced in his own life, and we looked at the wonderful forgiveness we have also recieved in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We talked about the weight of unconfessed sins, and our need to confess to God and others. We saw that such is not a mere need but a command we must follow (found in James five)
We looked at the goodness and the faithfulness of our God that when we confess our sins, John says He is “faithful and just to forgive us.”
Today we will try to finish our this Psalm.
6 For this let every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: Surely when the great waters overflow they shall not reach unto him. 7 Thou art my hiding-place; thou wilt preserve me from trouble; Thou wilt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will counsel thee with mine eye upon thee. 9 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; Whose trappings must be bit and bridle to hold them in, Else they will not come near unto thee. 10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he that trusteth in Jehovah, lovingkindness shall compass him about. 11 Be glad in Jehovah, and rejoice, ye righteous; And shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
When He May Be Found
When He May Be Found
In verse 6, David says “Let everyone…pray to you while you may be found”
What do you think this means?
I think we see a good look at a similar concept in the NT.
1 Therefore, since the promise to enter his rest remains, let us beware that none of you be found to have fallen short. 2 For we also have received the good news just as they did. But the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith. 3 For we who have believed enter the rest, in keeping with what he has said, So I swore in my anger, “They will not enter my rest,” even though his works have been finished since the foundation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in this way: And on the seventh day God rested from all his works. 5 Again, in that passage he says, They will never enter my rest. 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience, 7 he again specifies a certain day—today. He specified this speaking through David after such a long time: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.
7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep under his care. Today, if you hear his voice: 8 Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the wilderness
Gives a good thought translation to the what David is saying here: “Let everyone…pray immediately.”
See, when is the only time we know that God will be found? Right now! Today! Therefore, if we are sinning and caught up in transgression, if we would have forgiveness of those sins then we ought to seek the Lord in prayer right away! We aren’t promised tomorrow and if you get that conviction that you’ve done wrong you should not shrug it off!
For the one who prays to God immediately, what does David say will come of him?
That the floodwaters will not overtake him, since he has run to the Lord!
7 You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah
This is the reason for that. The Lord is the hiding place of the faithful. He is where we go to find safety, rest, peace, joy, instruction, wisdom, love. For us, when we go to God in prayer and repent and confess, we are running to the only safe haven we truly have: Our Father in heaven!
Next in the Psalm, David seems to write as if from the perspective of God talking to His faithful people:
8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel. 9 Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you.
It really struck me even just this morning that if I really want to find the best answers to situations, while we surely should seek the advice and counsel of the wise people around us, there is no better place to go than to the Lord!
He here tells us that He will instruct and guide us! He will watch us and give us counsel on what to do and where to go.
It makes me think of , on a much smaller scale, an apprentice with the master. The master watches the apprentice and shows him what to do and what not to do, giving advice and showing the tricks of the trade in a way. The experience and wisdom of the master is being given down to the apprentice so that he will learn the job well, be safe, and be good.
In somewhat like fashion, God guides us in this life telling us what we should do, what we should avoid, giving us wisdom and instruction on how to live this life in the way He intended us to! We cannot live this life truly well without Him!
There’s the call to “not be like a horse or mule without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you.”
What is meant by this?
It seems to me that it is a call to come near to God and receive this counsel and instruction and love from Him! Don’t be so stubborn that you think you know what you’re doing! None of us do when we are without God in the world. John says that men in the dark are stumbling around and don’t even know where they are going.
Rejoicing as Faithful
Rejoicing as Faithful
10 Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the Lord will have faithful love surrounding him. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
David says many pains will come upon the wicked. One may ask, “Where are the pains on the wicked? It seems to me they get everything easy!” David had the same thoughts from time to time!
Yet, tho the physical life often appears unfair, how blessed and rich are they who have the favor of God though they be poor in material! God’s faithful covenant love toward us is worth more than any amount of money, fame, or power anyone could attain to!
All these things are temporary, and when the wicked dies it all goes away from him! However, for the faithful, do you remember what we said this morning about our rejoicing? We rejoice in the eternal through the temporary! God is faithful to us, and surrounds us with His love and kindness and mercy to forgive us our sins and be true to His word and promises! Is there anything better than that?
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Therefore, since we have this faithful love from God, since our sins and iniquities are forgiven us, since God is our safety and shield — what ought we to do?
Rejoice!
Ps. 64.10; 68.3; 97.12
Inventory
Inventory
Let’s look back at this Psalm as a whole:
Of David. A Maskil. 1 How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! 2 How joyful is a person whom the Lord does not charge with iniquity and in whose spirit is no deceit! 3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer’s heat. Selah 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal 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 faithful pray to you immediately. When great floodwaters come, they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with my eye on you, I will give counsel. 9 Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you. 10 Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the Lord will have faithful love surrounding him. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Iniquity forgiven
Sins covered (out of the sight of God, by the blood of Jesus in our case)
God’s faithfulness as we confess and repent
God is our safety
God will guide our paths and watch over His faithful ones with love and instruction
God’s faithful love surrounds the faithful and upright
This psalm gives us quite a bit worth rejoicing over, right?!
Do we take all these things for granted?
My challenge to us this week is to intentionally take time to thank God from the heart for all these things which He gives us. Mean it from the heart! Then, the harder part of this: Live your life out of the gratitude! Complacency and unrepentance have no place to fit in the life of the faithful! Do not be complacent, but seek to grow in the Lord and love Him more; do not be unrepentant but pray while He may still be found!
Let’s truly be His faithful people!