Nancy Taylor Tate
In Psalm 32, David writes about a time of conviction and the chastening of the Lord in his life. He confesses his sin and tells of the Lord’s faithfulness to forgive him. David then goes on to speak of the blessedness of being in right relationship with the Lord.
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” Psalm 32:1.
“Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile” Psalm 32:2.
There are times when God deals with us until we come to a place of repentance:
“When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long” Psalm 32:3.
“For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah” Psalm 32:4.
Once we acknowledge our sin, the Lord is faithful to forgive us:
“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah” Psalm 32:5.
There is a blessing that rests on those who are in right relationship with God:
“For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him” Psalm 32:6.
The godly call on the Lord and find protection even in overwhelming circumstances. There is a place of rest and safety in the presence of the Lord:
“Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah” Psalm 32:7.
The Lord promises to lead and guide those who have a right relationship with Him as they look to Him:
“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye” Psalm 32:8.
Then the Psalmist admonishes us:
“Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee” Psalm 32:9.
He points out the contrast of those who don’t and those who do put their trust in the Lord:
“Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about” Psalm 32:10.
He then expresses his joy at being forgiven, and the joy of all those who are upright:
“Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart” Psalm 32:11.
These, simply written, are keys to living in right relationship with God. How we need this level of repentance, relationship, perception, and blessing in our lives!
I have laid this out using the King James Bible; you may want to read Psalm 32 in several other translations as well, to help you gain a deeper appreciation of what David has written.
From a place of love, devotion, and obedience, we can live our lives in right relationship to God and know the blessings that follow.
We need to be fine-tuned to the Lord, to know His thoughts, to know His ways, and to be directed by His Holy Spirit. I can testify of times when that gentle inner nudge of the Holy Spirit has made a huge difference in my life. This is so important in the times we are living in today!
May we adjust our activities to make room for more focused time in the Lord’s presence. May times of worship resonate in our hearts. May we meditate on God’s Word. May we be drawn ever closer to Him.
My prayer for you is that the Lord ever lead and guide you. That He bless you in every way. That He provide for your every need. That you are drawn ever closer to Him.
For those who need comfort, that God will comfort. For those who need direction, that the Lord will direct. Whatever the need, that you will turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and find the strength, wisdom, and peace He has for you.
May we be a godly example to others, a place where people can sense His peace, His presence, and His life in us, that they also might be encouraged to experience the blessedness of having a right relationship with God.