Psalm 32

Of David.
¹ Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whosesins 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!

After you read this psalm go to psalm 51. These psalms were written after David’s great sin. These psalms show us the way we are to handle sin in your life. 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.

However, if I continue to hide my sin then: 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.

Blessed is the theme of this psalm. The word is only used twice in this psalm; however it describes the right relationship we must have with the Lord. Look at the four conditions to be blessed of the Lord:

    He whose transgressions are forgiven.

    He whose sins are covered.

    He who sin the Lord does not count against him.

    He in whose spirit is no deceit.

As you read this psalm realize how easy it is to be in a right relationship with God.

    God does pursue us when we go astray.

    When we go astray the peace of God leaves us.

    When we acknowledge our sin, God forgives us, and we are at peace with God once more.

    We make God our hiding place our refuge.

    We let God teach us in the way, protect us, counsel us, and watch over us.

Then the Lord’s unfailing love will surround us, and we will be blessed.

This psalm points us back to the beginning of this book Psalm Chapter One.

As I was listening to my tapes on the New Testament I realized that Paul also explained these verses in Romans chapter four. Paul describes the blessings of this psalm as a blessing that comes from faith not by works or the keeping of the law. He also writes in Romans chapter four that this blessing of forgiven was not just to Abraham, but to all who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up for our trespasses and was raised for our justification. However, like this psalm which describes the entire relationship that David could enjoyed with God, Paul goes on in Romans chapter five to explain he relationship that we could also enjoy with God. Paul states in verses one and two that we have peace with God as well as access to God unto life eternal.

However, we do not have to wait for death to enjoy an intimate relationship with Christ.  In John 14:9 Christ ask Philip this question “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me?”.  As I read this verse, I am reminded of my journey on developing an intimate relationship with Christ.  When I first believe in the work that Christ did on the cross to secure my salvation for me, I called him Lord.  He was this all powerful being who was far away in heaven.  He was the Savior for mankind, a great figure to me just like the President of the USA is to an American.  But, now after walking with him for over fifty years he is my friend, someone I know.  As Christ told his disciples in John 15:14 “You are my friends, if you do the things which I command you” is the same relationship we can have with Christ. 

Oswald Chambers describes this type of an intimate relationship in his devotional for January 7th:

The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.

As we grow in the Lord, we realize that he will never leave us or desert us.  The more you walk with Christ the more you realized that people and friends will disappoint you.  Sometimes even your closest friends including your family or spouse will turn and become your enemies, but not Christ.  It was only after the person closest to me turned against me that I was about to have this calm and balance life that is in Christ.  However, this calm and balance life that is in Christ only came after a lot of heartache and a turning everything over to God to handle.