This Psalm is referred to as a "maschil"...which to the best of my understanding is a poem that conveys a life's experience when we have done wrong. In David's case, his wrongdoing was particularly severe, yet the words in this Psalm goes beyond David, and David let's us know this through a poetic type instruction. We can take comfort in these words not only when we are doing things that are not godly....hurting God, hurting others, and hurting ourselves...but when we live in fear of a situation we may be facing, or in anguish when we feel someone has hurt us, or in distress that we will not make it through one of life's challenges, or simply in sorrow for an event in our lives that has gotten "full blown"...and there is nothing anyone can do.
The first part of Psalm 32 describes what sin does when we entertain it in our lives:
1. Defying or rejecting instructions in life that is made clear to us through the ancient writings of the Sacred Scripture hurts the God...who loves and cares for us...so much.
2. Following through with sinful acts and refusing to follow His instructions and embrace His characteristics hurts not only Him...it hurts us as well.
3. Doing wrong...when we know it is wrong...hurts others.
Earlier verses in this "maschil" poem by David also teaches us how to bring God back into the center of our lives:
1. Forgiveness...When we enter into His Presence and face what we have done, and confess our sin as willful acts of defiance, He takes the heavy load we carry...and He carries all the sin and it's weight...away...far, far from us.
2. Covers: When we confess our rebellion against Him and the integrity of His Mighty Commands, He now steps in and allows us to find healing and reconciliation through accepting His characteristics, turning from our rebellion against Him.
3. Does not Hold it Against Us: When we confess our sin against Him and seek His forgiveness...through His power of repentance...He chooses to remember it no more and embraces us instead.
It is vital from this "maschil" David writes to us that in the midst of any affliction(s) we face in life, any anguish we may have accepted toward another, any distress, any trouble, or any sorrow that lives in our hearts....He can and will strengthen us and cause "Songs of Deliverance" to arise out of our very hearts and turn our attention to...Him!
A Gleaning from Psalm 32: 6-11
" It is important for a believer to confess his rebellion...his sin before our great God...as we are made aware of them. For it is here...in His Presence...we find our place of refuge and are able to receive His forgiveness.
Although "flood-like" crisis will face us from time to time, in His Presence with our hearts open before Him...we will not simply be "swept away"...He will provide us and establish us on a "High Ground". We can find trust in knowing He keeps us safe...no matter what worries or concerns we may be up against.
As a result of putting these things to practice in our lives, we can boldly announce from our very own hearts: "He is my Hiding Place! He will walk with me..through any storm in life, and knowing this, the outcome is not a perilous one, for His Presence is with me...and in me!
In fact, the more I seek out the honor of being in His Presence...He puts in me joyful songs...right from my heart!..."Songs of Deliverance" and songs that offer guidance as to which path I need to take now...all while these storms of life are whirling around me!
He does not want to have a friendship with us where He is forced to train us like we would a horse...or a mule...putting a severe bit in our mouths that He pulls from His great reins...causing us to follow Him...by force.
And remember this: the troubles we face in this life are not limited to only us...we who find our trust in Him...the sorrows of the wicked, those that refuse to listen to Him...are much more plentiful and numerous.
Yet as we surrender our time..our hearts...our minds...to desiring to be in His Presence, we will receive His Love and His Kindness toward us...in fact we will find ourselves surrounded by His Mercy and His Faithfulness, with this life long security...He will remain with us!
So it is best to be glad you have looked and found Him...for He is your True Friend, and rejoice and celebrate we have a faithful God that desires us!...to be in His very Presence!
This should cause your hearts to shout for joy...enjoying Him as an Ever-Presence in our lives."
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