* 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. 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." -Sin not confessed affects our health.
* "For day and night your hand was heavy upon me" -The wrath of God is being felt before judgement to turn our hearts to God and ask for forgiveness.
* "my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer" -God is the life of all humans.
* 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"
* "Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity." -The first step of forgiveness is acknowledge and acceptance that we are the cause of our sin. Blaming others, or circumstances does not lead to forgiveness of sin.
* "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD" -Confession and the asking for forgiveness are the next steps after acknowledge and acceptance of sin.
* "and you forgave the guilt of my sin." -guaranteed, always, to everyone, anytime, anywhere if the sin is acknowledged, accepted, confessed, and forgiveness is ask of God.
* Ephesians 1:4-8 "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."
* Colossians 1:13-14 "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
* Hebrews 9:20-22 "He said, 'This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.' In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
* 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.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 32:5.
>What wise advice based on personal experience does David give? What might the mighty rising river refer too?
* 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. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah"
* "Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found" -Death is when it is to late to ask for forgiveness.
* "surely when the mighty waters rise" -The poetic description of the grave. Other understandings exists including a powerful imagery for threatening forces or circumstances, and this imagery was borrowed from ancient Near Eastern creation myths which say the creator-god made the universe from chaotic waters that remain a constant threat to security and well-being. Neither of these fit well with the entirety of Psalm 32.
* "they will not reach him." -They is prayers. Prayers do not reach God after death if sin remains during physical life.
* 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.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 32:6-7.
>3. Who is saying this to whom in verse 8? What does this say about the following verses?
* Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you."
* "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go"
* "I will counsel you and watch over you."
>What is the nature of the relationship between a horse or mule to it's master? What does the instruction in verse 9 therefore, teach about the kind of relationship the Lord's people have with their master?
* 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."
* "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."
* 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)
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 32:8-9.
>Why are the wicked so miserable? (10) Why are the people who trust the LORD not?
* Psalm 32:10-11 "Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!"
* "Many are the woes of the wicked"
* "but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him."
* "Rejoice in the LORD and be glad... sing" -Commanded. The reason is the forgiveness of the Lord.
* "you righteous... all you who are upright in heart!"
* 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!"
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 32:10-11.
II. Music for the LORD (33:1-9)
* James Tissot is the author of this painting titled "Joy". It is now in public domain.
>4. What four things are the upright commanded to do in verses 1 and 3?
* 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."
* "you righteous... the upright"
* "a new song" -Impromptu or with thought over time. Perfect or imperfect.
* 1) "Sing joyfully to the LORD"
* 2) "praise him."
* 3) "play skillfully"
* 4) "shout for joy."
* The psalm begins with a three-verse stanza as a call to joyfully praise the Lord in song. The declaration from the choir goes to the congregation of the righteous in an uplifting melody. Perhaps Apostle Paul was thinking of this psalm as he wrote, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:19-20)
As the instrument of David and the Levites, the lyre (aka "harp" in Hebrew is "kinnor") was employed in both secular and sacred settings. A popular instrument throughout the Ancient Near East, the lyre was often used to accompany singing. The number of strings on the lyre could vary; its basic shape was rectangular or trapezoidal. The psalm specifies a ten-stringed harp.
The psalm is a happy song that perhaps fulfills the promise made in 7:17. David promised, "I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High." The psalm is a new song. I am not a genius composer. Yet, I can write new words and hum a new melody as a praise offering to the Lord.
As a beginner, I will need much repetitive practice to become skilled in praising God in song. This psalm instructs practice until I am skilled in the craft of a musician and a singer. Perhaps, I'll never be very good to other's ears. Yet, I should always seek to better my skills so I can present a fragrant offering in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to the Lord God.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 31:1-3.
>Is praise confined to only the human voice? (2)
* Psalm 33:2 "Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre."
* "the harp" -Stringed musical instrument.
* "the ten-stringed lyre." -Specific amount of strings defines the type to this day.
* "music" -Melody and rhythm.
* David playing a harp with one hand and a scroll in the other. The artist signature is in the bottom right. This is now in public domain.
>5. What truth is stated about the word the Lord in verse 4? How does the realities stated in verses 6 and 7 back up this claim? In light of this truth, what is the world commended to do according to verse 8 and 9?
* 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. 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. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm."
* "word of the LORD" -Often stated in the Bible.
* "Let all the earth fear the LORD" -Command that has no boundaries.
* "let all the people of the world revere him" -Same as above.
* The Word of God is the ultimate power. Genesis chapter one and Psalm 3:6-9 reveal that from the formless, empty, and dark depth the Word of God spoken made all we know and experience. "For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm." "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth." The Word of God brought light from darkness.
The Word of God was with God and was God in the beginning. (John 1:1-3, 14) The Word became flesh and was given the name Jesus a little over two thousand years ago. Jesus, the Word of God speaks and it happens. Something good from nothing.
Jesus spoke and a raging sea whipped by a furious wind immediately calmed. The wind immediately ceased to exist. He spoke and a boy who was dead and being carried to his grave-site stood up full of life. He spoke and the lame, sick, demon-possessed, and blind were healed. He spoke and a fruitless fig tree withered. Jesus' words were listened to and believed and they changed messed up, hopeless, miserable lives wreathed in pain and suffering into pleasant, joyful, hopefully, content souls. Everything is possible with the Word of God! Nothing is impossible for the Word of God!
Let the ultimate power dwell in and change a formless, empty, and dark soul and life. "What does it the Lord say? 'The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,' that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 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." (Romans 10:8-9) "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..." (Colossians 3:16) Live with and according to the Word of God and the pain and suffering will quiet down and cease to exist. The Word of God is the ultimate power.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 31:6-9.
>Explain the point and meaning behind verse 5.
* Psalm 33:5 "The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love."
* "The LORD loves righteousness and justice"
* "the earth is full of his unfailing love."
* The Lord's character is revealed in verses 4 and 5. He is right. He is true. He is faithful in all he does. He is righteousness. He is justice. He is love. He pours out his love on all the earth.
Being right means he is in accordance with fact, reason, and truth. Jesus is fitting, proper, and appropriate. Jesus always has the right answer and is the right answer.
Being true means he is consistent with fact and reality. Jesus is the true one and he is truthful. Jesus is real and genuine. He is reliable and accurate to reality.
Being faithful means he is adhering firmly and devotedly to a person, a cause, and an idea. Jesus is worthy of trust and belief. He is reliable. He is always here.
Being righteousness means he is morally upright, without guilt, and sin. Jesus is in accordance with virtue and morality. He is perfect in character. God is holy, holy, and holy.
Being justice means he is moral righteousness. Jesus conforms to moral righteousness in action and attitude. He upholds what is just, especially fair treatment and due reward in accordance with honor, truth, and law.
Being love means he has a deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward others. Jesus' love is displayed in this, while I was still a sinner in rebellion against him he died so I could live life to the full. (1 John 3:16) Jesus poured out his love when his blood poured onto the cross. "Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.," is Jesus' expression as he hung on the cross. (Luke 23:34)
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 31:4-5.
III. Blessed is the Nation Whose God is the LORD (33:10-22)
* James Tissot is the author of this painting titled "Jesus Walking in Solomon's Porch". It is now in public domain.
>6. What is the relationship between plans made, the nations, and the Lord? (10-11) How can a nation be blessed? (12) What must happen for their to be an inheritance?
* Psalm 33:10-12 "The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance."
* "The LORD foils the plans of the nations"
* "he thwarts the purposes of the peoples."
* "But the plans of the LORD... the purposes of his heart"
* The Lord God's power in creation merges into his sovereign control of human history. The Lord God's attention to the working details in creation merges with his attention to the details of every person and nation, their individual and collective soul's emotions, thoughts, and will. He who forms the hearts of all considers everything we do. He knows us even better than we know ourselves and acts accordingly for the well-being of ourselves.
The Lord God does not allow the will of the human heart to spin downward into the depths of depression, misery, and hell without intervention. He does not force his creation into submission to our best life course. Rather, he gives us choices allowing us to make the right step-by-step choice, the better choices. The Lord Jesus does not force us into submission. He tells us and shows us the right and good life. Blessed is the nation and person whose God is the Lord, the people he chooses for his inheritance. The people who accept his good plans. The people who accept him.
The plans of the Lord God stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. The plans of the Lord's heart are good for mankind, good for the nation, good for the person. If a nation or an individual rejects the sovereign plans of the Lord, if they make plans to counter the Lord God's plans, then the Lord God foils the plans of the nations. He thwarts the purposes of the people. The plans of the Lord cannot be stopped, altered, or subverted. The plans of the Lord God do and will happen for they are for the good of those who follow his good and perfect will. The choice is mine for a better life or for my lesser plan.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 31:10-15.
>Can any action escape God's awareness? Why? (13-14) Why? (15) What if the person has what humans consider a great advantage? (16-17)
* Psalm 33:13-17 "From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth-- he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save."
* From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind"
* "From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind" -He is interested in all mankind. He is watching in love as a loving parent watches their children. Verses 13 thru 15 implies freedom of human's to choose.
* "saved.., escapes... deliverance... save" -Trouble comes the size of invading army. Jesus said, "You will have trouble in this world..."
* What or who do I trust to bring me through any and all life situations? Whether trouble or ease who or what do I rely on? Where is my strength, will, cunning, and hope? When death's vast army marches towards me from all directions where is my hope for deliverance? Hope in self melts like ice on summer's hot pavement and evaporates into memory. The person who sets their heart and mind to be their sovereign ruler, does vanity remain when confronted with distress and sure doom? When vengeance arrives in force how do I face its extreme?
David a warrior before being king declares, "No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save." My fortitude cannot withhold against all that life has in store for me. A mountain always rises that I cannot remove or avoid.
So what to do? What hope can be born? Hope in the Lord for, "The eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine." When confronting the large and mighty forces of the Promised Land in faith, Joshua believed the Lord Jesus who stated, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." King Zerubbabel was told by the Lord Almighty through his prophet, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit." (Zechariah 4:6)
>When the Lord see's his people what is he watching for? (18-19) With belief in this, what is their response when confronted with great opposition?
* 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, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you."
* "fear... hope in his unfailing love"
* "wait in hope for the LORD... trust in his holy name"
* "our hearts rejoice"
* Most plans, engagements, opportunities, and suffering are spent waiting. I wait without choice for a plan to unfold successfully. I wait without choice for an engagement to begin perfectly. I wait without choice for the opportunity to pay off fully. I wait without choice for the suffering to end and be forgotten.
Little in life is more hungry than waiting. Waiting consumes most of my time and if I let it, waiting will consume my mind, emotions, and strength. Waiting tries to consume my peace. Waiting is little fish constantly nibbling my soul. Waiting tries to become my master. Waiting does not have to be the unavoidable tool of the devil. Waiting in righteous hope can be the tool that rejoices with me when waiting is done.
Waiting involves time. Time is a creation of the Lord Almighty. Waiting, an arm of time was therefore created by God Almighty. Waiting is an important part of life for the servant of the Lord for waiting can produce good fruit. Waiting should involve hope as the ocean involves fish. Waiting can include hope if I permit it. Waiting, trust, and hope in the Lord is a part of the life of the servant of the Lord.
The Lord through Apostle Paul wrote, "We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5:2-5)
