February 13, 2009
one helping of humility, please
Psalm 32
Melody Phillips
Central Truth
God is ready to forgive us. All we have to do is own up to our mistakes.
Key Verse | Psalm 32:5
Then I confessed my sin; I no longer covered up my wrongdoing. I said, “I will confess my rebellious acts to the Lord.” And then you forgave my sins. (Psalm 32:5)
Psalm 32
Blessed Are the Forgiven
A Maskil 1 32:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term of David.
1
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2
Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up
2
32:4
Hebrew my vitality was changed
as by the heat of summer. Selah
5
I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
6
Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
7
You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.
10
Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.
11
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Dive Deeper | Psalm 32
I was highly intelligent. I also had a near photographic memory. My powers of observation were acute. And oh my, I took great pride in these gifts.
Then one day, I was walking across a parking lot. Two co-workers walked with me, one on either side. An afternoon shower had left the pavement wet. We were walking and talking on our way into a restaurant for dinner. Suddenly, I stepped onto a patch of cement amid the asphalt. The smooth surface was like ice, and my feet flew out from under me. I remember the back of my head hit the hard surface, bounced like a basketball, and hit a second time with a thud. In that split second, my life changed.
After one year of disequilibrium, faulty short-term memory, and ongoing language processing issues, I saw clearly that I had taken for granted my intellectual gifts. I had taken for granted the God who had provided those gifts. I had been living a self-important, pride-filled existence. Finally, I was brought to my knees and was ready to confess my sin of pride. I rose and put myself wholly in my Savior's hands.
God's forgiveness was a wave washing away my sins. My life has changed tremendously. I took Equipped Disciple classes and developed a personal relationship with God. The classes led me to develop the habit of daily Bible study, having a conversation with God through prayer rather than a one-sided list of desires, and committing God's Word to memory. My husband saw the change in me and followed me in the three-part study. His life changed. Our marriage changed. Our family changed.
Now I can say along with the psalmist, "For this reason every one of your faithful followers should pray to you while there is a window of opportunity. Certainly when the surging water rises, it will not reach them. You are my hiding place; you protect me from distress. You surround me with shouts of joy from those celebrating deliverance." (Psalm 32:6-7)
What sin do you hold in your life as a pet? Free yourself now!
Discussion Questions
1. Are you growing a pet sin in your life? Perhaps a subtle sin like pride or unforgiveness?
2. What might be some human relationship consequences of hiding sin?
3. Have you experienced any consequences of hiding sin in your life?
4. What is keeping you from confessing your sin and allowing God to free you?