The Holy Spirit inspired David to compose a contemplative song. For Christians, the goal of contemplation is to BEHOLD in order to BECOME more like CHRIST. There is no quicker or more thorough way to become more like Christ than to have your sins forgiven by God. In a moment, thanks to God, you stand before Him sinless. Guilt and shame gone! Peace with God!
How frequently do we think about and thank God for the blessing of forgiveness of sins?
I like to take communion often because it’s very purpose is to remind me of what Jesus Christ did for my forgiveness. In Matthew 26:26-28, the Bible says, “Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat. This is My body.’ And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Thanks to Jesus Christ, I need not slay a lamb and offer it to God because Jesus became the Lamb of God for me.
Psalm 85:2 says God covered all my sin.
Psalm 103:3 says God forgives all my iniquities and heals all my diseases.
Romans 4:8 says, “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” How can any sinner avoid being pronounced guilty by a holy God? The answer is to believe that God has taken your sins from you and placed them on His Son Christ. 1 John 1:7 says, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
In Isaiah 1:18, the Lord says, “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow...”
In Isaiah 43:25, the Lord says, “I, even I, am He that blots out Your transgressions for Mine own sake and will not remember your sins.”
In Isaiah 44:22, the Lord says, “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, your transgressions, and, as a cloud, your sins. Return unto Me for I have redeemed you.” Don’t stay away from God because of your sins, bring them to God and let Him forgive them all.
In Micah 7:19, the Bible says, “The Lord will turn again. He will have compassion upon us. He will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” Once, God casts your sins into the depths of the sea, don’t go fishing to pull them up. Let them be forgiven and forgotten.
David declares by the Holy Spirit, “Blessed is the man in whose spirit there is no deceit.” This verse corresponds with 1 John 1:8-9, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Cast away deceitfulness and admit that you are a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness. In James 2:10, the Lord says, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” One sin makes you a sinner, but the truth is we all sin both by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We need God’s ongoing forgiveness daily.
“When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me. My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah! I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah! For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time when You may be found. Surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him.” Psalm 32:3-6
The worst response to sin is no response. When David did not allow the Spirit to guide him into all truth in regards to his sin, it impacted his health. His bones ached. He felt pressed down. The bubbling brook in his soul became a dry riverbed. Finally, he could not take the pain any longer, and he confessed his sins to God and God forgave him. Praise God! God’s Spirit convicted him of his sins and gave him grace to pray from his heart to the Lord.
1 Peter 5:5-7 says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
The answer to David’s dilemma was not far away. It did not require much of him, just humility. Finally, he threw his pride aside and asked the Lord to forgive him. Praise God, an overwhelming flood of pain was about to overflow him, but as soon as he cried out to God, “Forgive my sins,” the Lord commanded the mayhem to stop.
“David held out long and would not surrender till it came to the last extremity, but, when he did surrender, see how quickly, how easily, he obtained good terms: ‘I did but say, I will confess, and You forgave.’ Thus, the father of the prodigal saw his returning son when he was yet afar off and ran to meet him with the kiss that sealed his pardon. Such blessed assurance... if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins!” [1]
“You are my hiding place. You shall preserve me from trouble. You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah! Psalm 32:7
I am grateful to God for taking my sin and covering them in the blood of Christ so they are no longer on my account with Him in heaven. I am grateful to Him for all the songs that have been composed about His forgiveness. Songs like, “Amazing Grace,” “And Can It Be.” “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” and “There Is A Fount.” These songs provide for me blessed assurance that since Jesus is mine, I need not fear to meet God. God is now my loving Heavenly Abba Father.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.” Psalm 32:8-9
The Holy Spirit coached David. He instructed and taught David while he went about his daily life. No matter what David did, the Holy Spirit used his experiences as teaching moments to guide his thoughts into the love of God. When David was distant and dense-headed, the Spirit urged him not to be as the horse and the mule which due to their uncooperative natures have to be guided with a harness and bit.
“Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.” Psalm 32:10
Sin yields sorrow. And for the wicked person who refuses to embrace God’s free salvation in Christ, he or she inherits everlasting sorrow. It is so much better to trust in the Lord and receive His forgiveness. God is merciful by nature, but when we are guilty of sin and humbly plead with Him, saying, “Lord, have mercy on me, forgive my sin...” He is even more generous with us.
“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous. And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” Psalm 32:11
Being close with God yields gladness and joy.
“Psalm 32 is a “Maschil” (מַשְׂכִּיל). Maschil is a term found in the titles of Psalms 32, 42, 44-45, 52–55, 74, 78, 88-89, and 142. Maschil means “a contemplation” or “instruction.” The word “Maschil” is derived from the Hebrew word “Sakal” (שָׂכַל) which means to be prudent, act wisely, have insight, or prosper.” [2] The Holy Spirit inspired David to compose this Psalm to impart wisdom to us. Thanks be to God!
[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary
[2] Google Sources
No comments:
Post a Comment