- This psalm seems to have some familiarity to some other psalms we have studied, what are they?
- Psalm 1: use of the word "Blessed" to start the psalm. What was the point of Ps 1? The closer we get to "sinners:" standing, walking, and sitting, the less likely we will enjoy blessing
- Psalm 51: as we get further in, this psalm deals with sin, shame, guilt, and forgiveness which might suggest the Bathsheba incident. But David actually had other struggles, what are they? The struggles with his children. His feigning allegiance with the Philistines. His census of Israel's strength. His anger at Abigail's husband, Nabal. The death of Uriah
- There is no evidence that this psalm was related to the Bathsheba-Uriah incident, although it could have been written after Ps 51
- Verse 1 is an example of synonymous parallelism, meaning?
- To have your transgression forgiven is the same as having your sin covered
- Verse 2 is an example of synthetic parallelism, synthetic meaning? And verse 2 meaning?
- Synthetic means the completion or expansion of an idea; also advancing a thought. Technically, that is really parallelism, since there is an additional idea or thought added
- Blessed is a person whom / whose
- The Lord does not count iniquity (this is the idea of forgiven)
- Spirit is no deceit (this is the idea of no guilt)
- APPLICATION: Some of the problems in this world are psychological with a spiritual foundation. We need forgiveness. We need to remove our guilt
- The world's approach is to deny sin or mores
- God's approach is to respond to repentance
- How does verses 2-3 relate to verses 3-4. The seem to be organized in strophes (pronounced stro-phe, both vowels long)
- The first strophe about blessedness or happiness
- The second strophe is the opposite effect
- Verse 3 is another synthetic parallelism. Put it in your own words -
- Silence (held my sin in) results in bones wasting away (imagery: weakness) and in groaning (imagery: internal pain)
- Many people harden themselves to the effect, but it does not take it away, it only suppresses it
- Hardening takes a toll upon our souls (our spiritual and psychological self)
- Verse 4 uses emblematic parallelism
- Emblematic compares two lines that are reliant on each other using symbols (it can be a contrast or an enhancement)
- What are the symbols? And what is the understood meaning of the imagery?
- God's hand is heavy
- Burden is pressing down
- Opposite of lightness. Carrying an extra load
- Strength dried up as in the heat of summer
- We don't recognize this as much because we live in San Antonio. But if you live in the North and then come down here in the summer, the heat literally zaps you of your strength
- This picture is of a spiritual / emotional struggle that affects a person physically
- APPLICATION: Some physical issues are the result of spiritual issues
- David apparently knew the effect of unconfessed sin, and this would suggest that it is related to Bathsheba and Uriah because it is the only sin he waited so long to confess. The Philistine issue which was more of a compromise also took some time and there the result was discipline on David and his men
- The first step to spiritual healing (which may also start physical healing (if related)) is what?
- Confession
- What does confession mean?
- Verbal acknowledgment of sin to God
- Repentance (often used as well) means to turn away from the sin
- APPLICATION: Repentance ought to be a regular part of our prayer life. We should immediately repent, but sometimes we have closed our heart to God's truth. I like to pray the following verse:
- What might it mean "while you may be found" or "at a time when you may be found"?
- The simple thought is "the sooner, the better" because the danger is that the longer we wait, there is a chance that we harden our heart or that we become more entwined in the sin
- The antithetic parallelism here (in verse 6) suggests that the time is before "the greater waters reach him"
- God promises to discipline his children
- Verse 7 uses emblematic parallelism. I think that is why I love the song "You Are My Hiding Place"
- You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance
- Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you
- I will trust in you, Let the weak say I am strong in the strength of the Lord
- I think the reason the song (about this verse) is so powerful is because it truly reflects the need and desire in our heart (and in David's)
- We are weak
- We need to trust in God (but it is hard)
- And we fail him so often, it doesn't seem like we should expect him to do anything for us
- How do these verses fit with this other verses or strophes?
- God wants to teach us
- God wants to help us defeat sin and live the way he intended for us to live
- There are two ways to go about it -- David knew them both. What are they?
- You can listen to God 's instruction
- Requires regular time in the word of God
- Requires regular prayer time
- You can learn the hard way
- The hard way is painful (the bit)
- The hard way may force you to go to places you do not want to go
- APPLICATION: Meeting with God regularly does not just happen. It needs to be planned
- Sometimes we incorrectly think that those who do know God seem to have life so easy. And the psalmists do complain about that in a number of psalms. The reality of life is that everyone struggles, but oftentimes we can't see the struggles that others are going through
- Walking with God will not eliminate struggles, but what can we be sure of and what does that mean to us
- God's steadfast love surrounds us
- God will never desert us
- God will bring good out of painful situations (Rom 8:28 promise to believers)
- We have a reason to shout for joy -- WE HAVE HOPE!
- APPLICATION: Thank God that he is always there and he gives us joy and hope for any situation
Psalm 32:1–2 (ESV) —
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.
Hebrews 9:11–14 (ESV) — 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the
good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent
(not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the
blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an
eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the
sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the
purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood
of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to
God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Psalm 32:3–4 (ESV) —
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 as by the heat of summer.
Selah
Psalm 32:5 (ESV) —
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
1 John 1:9 (ESV) — 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV) —
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalm 32:6–7 (ESV) —
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
Deuteronomy 8:5 (ESV) — 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines
his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.
Psalm 32:8–9 (ESV) —
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.
Psalm 32:10–11 (ESV) —
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!
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