A Study Of Psalm 32 Series

A Study of Psalm 32

Psalm 32

Introduction

- Good evening … short intro on new format

- Open to all, may allow more to attend due to busy schedules

- Comments can be seen by all, questions can be asked through comments

- Encourage participation … strengthening of faith of one another is key

- Looking at our next Psalm, we see some real honesty about living

-- David has a desire here to show us what warped/right living looks like

- Re: Sin referred to here is with Bathsheba and Uriah …

- Read Psalm 32:1-11 / Pray

Point 1

- David is cleansed from sin:

• Praise b/c sin is forgiven (1a)

- David begins this Psalm by announcing the joy that comes from forgiveness

- Word forgiven (Heb. word nasa) means: “to have one’s sin lifted off”

• Joy because depravity covered (1b)

- David knew that unconfessed sin is a tremendous burden

- It can weigh us down physically and mentally

- B/C David confessed, he can testify to this important fact – WE ALL CAN

• Defilement is not counted against him (2a)

- Celebration is b/c God did not count his sin against him

- We too can celebrate b/c when sin is forgiven, it is removed from us

- This is the lesson … unconfessed sin weighs us down

• Deception is removed (2b)

- So, when we confess, we are relieved of the weight of sin

- Note: May still have consequences, but God’s judgment removed

- EX: Confession of a crime may still hold jail sentence due to laws broken

- Remember, David spent much time concealing his sin …

• Suppressed it (3a)

- Note, David changes his tense here from present to the past (remembering)

- Re: He hid his sin from God and everyone around him

- Reference to “I kept silent” is about the sin he did not want to reveal/confess

• Because he hid it …. He suffered for it (3b-4)

- Therefore, he wasted away (punished) by concealing it

- APP: sin can cause us to feel oppressed, cut off, exhausted, and depleted

- So, (analogy) just like the summer heat can zap our strength … he felt it

- Quite literally, his soul was aching and racked with pain b/c of it

- APP: Unconfessed sin can tear us apart, especially spiritually

-- We feel ashamed because of it, and in that won’t talk to God (or confess it)

-- Therefore, our relationship becomes more strained (separated) with Him

- IMP: He hasn’t moved from us … but rather, we choose to cut Him off

-- David felt the same pressure here in his sin … he was hiding from God

-- And not willing to admit that God was the one calling out to him

Point 2

- Pivotal verse of this entire psalm is verse 5 … re-read

- David confesses his sin

• Acknowledged it (5a) – Realized he had done wrong

• Uncovered it (5b) – Let it be known what he had done

• Confessed it (5c) – Admitted where he has sinned against God

• Cleansed of it (5d) – God, in turn, cleansed him of his wrong-doing

- That cleansing is the critical point … means that sin was not held against him

-- We each know what we have done – and where we have done wrong

-- Confession is opening that door for God to heal you of the burden of it

-- KEY: Psalm 51:3, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.”

- The end of v5 shows us what happens when we confess (literally, repent)

-- “And you forgave the guilt of my sin” … it is not held against him anymore

Point 3

- Admittedly, David had a pretty tough go, but it was brought on himself

-- He did the deeds, he caused the problems, he brought God’s judgment down

- One could understand if he’d just want to go into a hole and forget it all

-- However, he does something incredibly telling of his character and thankfulness

- David teaches us about sin

- “Therefore … let all the faithful”:

• Pray to God (6); there is safety in God (ref: rising waters)

• Rest in God (7); David was hiding from God, realized He is hiding place

• Learn from God (8); God’s desire is to teach us the right way to go

• Submit to God (9); Animals often do their own thing; David cautions us

• Trust in God (10); Only in God do we see comfort and love

• Rejoice in God (11); When we are forgiven, rejoice! (Rinse & repeat v1)

- His outline is like its own sermon … in living color for life application