* James Tissot is the author of this painting titled "Pray". It is now in public domain.
>1. Who pronounces a person "blessed"? What is transgression and sin? Who can say "forgiven"? What does it mean to have one's sins covered? What does it mean to have our sin count against us? What deceit do all have? What does it mean to have no deceit in light of verses 1 and 2?
* Psalm 32:1-2 "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."
* "Blessed" -Special attention from God.
* "transgressions... sins" -"Transgression" is "pesha" in Hebrew. "Sin" is "Hata'a" in Hebrew.
* "sins are covered" -Hidden. Not seen. No longer exposed like Adam and Even knew they were naken in the garden.
* "whose sin the LORD does not count against him" -Forgiven and forgotten.
* "whose spirit is no deceit." -Admits to and accepts their sin.
* "Imputed! Imputed! Imputed!" "Pesha! Pesha! Pesha!" "You are guilty of 'pesha'"! (transgression) "Hata'a! Hata'a! Hata'a!" (sin) "You are guilty of 'hata'a!'" "Pronounce the 'awon'! Pronounce the 'verdict!'" So says the incriminator.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! What say you Host High God?" So says the odious.
"One who is omnipotent. I am as I am accused. I am transgression. I am sin. I am guilty. I have violated your way. I have rebelled against truth and good. I can deceive no more. I am the fault. I can deny it no more. I accept I have wronged you. I have wronged all around me. I have wronged myself. I charge myself with fault and responsibility. I have my fill of filth. Either end me or end the filth in me. You can end me or make me whole. Into your hands, I commit my fate and spirit. Forget or forgive. Cover me with dirt, or cover my sins. Count me as sin no longer to exist, or count my sin as no longer to exist. What you say I accept for I cannot go on this way anymore. I am disgusted with it all. I am disgusted with myself. The incriminator has spoken the truth. I ask for grace and mercy. Any verdict from you will be the best for me."
"I am truth. I am life. I am just. I am righteousness. I am omnipotent. I am God Almighty. Into my hands, I have been given by my Father life and death. I am that I am. I say unto you, 'Esher. Blessed. Forgiven. Covered. Your sin,' says the Lord, 'does not count against you. Go and sin no more.'"
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 32:1-2.
>When David sinned what did he do at first? (3) What was the affect?
* Psalm 32:3-4 "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah"
* "When I kept silent" -Did not confess his sin.
* "my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long."
* "For day and night your hand was heavy upon me"
* "my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer"
* Sin festers the soul when a confession of guilt is not spoken. Bones waste away through groaning. The hand of guilt weighs heavy. Macbeth's conscience forces the continual washing of blood that is not present. The hand of God lays heavy. "The wrath of God is (being) revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness" (Romans 1:18) The strongest and bravest feel their strength poured out as in the heat of summer. A guilty mind will not free the soul with a stubborn refusal to acknowledge sin.
The consequence of sin is as real as the effects of gravity, magnetism, and the heart of a young man with a maiden. The one who ignores inhibition will also be unable to ignore the consequences.
David experienced this when he sinned and kept silent. His spirit was full of deceit. He did not own up to his part. He did not keep his side of the street clean. He falsely blamed others for his dire state. Psalm 31:10 confesses, "My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my sin, and my bones grow weak." And Psalm 38:8 accepts, "I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart." Finally, Psalm 39:10-11 declares, "Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand. You rebuke and discipline men for their sin; you consume their wealth like a moth-- each man is but a breath."
Without admittance, there is no relief from sin.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 32:3-4.
>2. What did David say to himself? What was the affect?
* Psalm 32:5 "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"
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* This psalm's message is the relieved and happy state of the forgiveness of sin. Verse 5 is the focal. David acknowledged his sin to God. God forgave him. He was delighted and told everyone. This has been, is, and will be the true action-reaction for everyone. Romans 10:9-11 states the same, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'"
The Hebrew verbs translated as "forgave" are "nasa" and "nacah" which literally means "bear", "take away", "carry away", and "lift". Apostle Paul wrote, "And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: 'The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.'" (Romans 11:26-27) The Apostle John wrote, "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him." (1 John 3:4-6)
Many years ago I confessed my sin and asked the Lord Jesus to take away my sin. I experienced something I had not known, the forgiveness of sin, the birth of my spirit. Oh, what a joyous and pleasant state. I will never forget what he has done. I tell others.
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* Psalm 32:6-7 "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"
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* David, the author of this psalm is addressing the people of God. He tells them to confess to God if they have sinned like he did. They are not to keep quiet as he had done and suffered for it. He held his sins in and was distressed until he prayed to God.
Apostle John wrote, "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2) And Isaiah the prophet wrote, "Seek the LORD while He may be found; call to Him while He is near. Let the wicked one abandon his way and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, so He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will freely forgive." (Isaiah 55:6-7)
Is there a time when my prayers will not be heard, that is they will not be acted upon by God? What are the mighty waters that rise? David poetically says, "Do not bring unconfessed sin to the grave." While I am physically alive I will find forgiveness for any sin I have committed if I am sincere and have faith in the name of Jesus, the Messiah. However, when my physical body dies it will be to late to confess sin and ask for forgiveness. Now is the time to fall under the mercy and grace of God before I sink into the mighty waters of the grave.
>3.
* Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."
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* Psalm 32:9 "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."
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* A ride in an open field with views of floating white clouds, blue skies, lush trees, grey mountains, a glistening river flowing into a reflective lake, and a person loved is an afternoon warmth. The rider knows his destination and the reason for the course. The horse however does not understand the purpose nor reason of the journey. Can a mule know the best course? They must be controlled by the bit and bridle or they will not come to and with you. God's servants must be wiser than beasts, more open to God's will than horses and mules are to the will of their masters.
"Hear, O heavens! Listen, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: 'I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.' Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. Why should you be beaten anymore? Why do you persist in rebellion? Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness-- only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with oil." (Isaiah 1:2-6)
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* Psalm 32:10-11 "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!"
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* The Lord Jesus' unfailing love surrounds those who trust in him like a thick quilt a grandmother made for me to shield me from the cold winter air. In verse 7 David said the Lord surrounds him with songs of deliverance. Listen to the pleasant kiss of a melody, the gentle touch to the musical soul, these are like the warmth of the heart the Lord's love ignites to shield from sins' shivering breath.
Many are the woes of the wicked who throw love's quilt to the ground and turn off the heart-moving melody. Their stubborn reliance on self brings an inharmonious combination of depressing tones and shivering fear. The most insignificant discomfort becomes a prime concern that reoccurs in thought and action. The love of God accepted is love for self and others.
"Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!"
II. Music for the LORD (33:1-11)
* James Tissot is the author of this painting titled "Joy". It is now in public domain.
>4.
* Psalm 33:1 "Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him."
* Psalm 33:3 "Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy."
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* Psalm 33:2 "Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre."
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>5.
* Psalm 33:4 "For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does."
* Psalm 33:6-7 "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses."
* Psalm 33:8-9 "Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm."
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* Psalm 33:5 "The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love."
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* Psalm 33:10-12 "The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance."
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* Psalm 33:13-17 "From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth--
15 he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.
16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save."
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* Psalm 33:18-22 "But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you."
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III. Blessed is the Nation Whose God is the LORD (33:12-22)
* James Tissot is the author of this painting titled "Jesus Walking in Solomon's Porch". It is now in public domain.
