Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered…Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Psalm 32
David wrote 7 psalms that are classified as “penitential” psalms. They are Psalm 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130 and, 143. The most well-known of these is Psalm 51, David’s repentance of his sins against God by his adultery with Bathsheba and his directing the murder of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, and other sins related to this incident. In today’s psalm, David skillfully wrote of important lessons about sin, confession and, forgiveness. He used two approaches in this psalm: Remembering the lessons and Relaying the lessons. In remembering, David starts by saying that the one whose sin is forgiven and covered by the blood is blessed. David, then, says what happened when he did not confess his sin. He felt his life was wasting from him, he groaned under God’s heavy hand of conscience until he finally acknowledged his sin to God and God responded by forgiving David of his iniquities. Next David wants to relay these lessons to the reader of the psalm. Here is wisdom from David for Christians today: Offer prayer to God while He may be found for there will be a day when the unsaved will seek for God and He will not be found by them. Next, David praises God for hiding him, preserving him and, surrounding him with shouts of deliverance. David counsels the reader to not be like a horse or a mule that must have a bridle and bit to control it. David ends this psalm with praises to God for His steadfast love to those who trust in Him and to be glad in the Lord, rejoicing and shouting for joy for the Lord’s blessings. May Christians today see David’s psalms as road maps to use in their prayers to God for repentance, forgiveness, giving praise and glory to God for His steadfast love grace and mercy!
Source: S C Ball May 18, 2023
Leave a Reply