Stubborn Silence

Today’s Bible Reading:  2 Samuel 15-16; Psalm 32; Matthew 25

Topic: Salvation

SCRIPTURE:  Psalm 32

¹ Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. ² Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

³ 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 sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah

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

⁶ 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. ⁷ You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. 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. ¹⁰ Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.

¹¹ Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

(Ps 32 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

This psalm of David divides into three sections.

1.   The first section (vv. 1-4) is David speaking of a revealed truth and how he learned it:

¹ Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. ² Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

David learned this truth the hard way:

³ 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 sapped as in the heat of summer.

And what was it that David kept silent about? What silence caused such heaviness upon him, sapped his energy and produced decline and groaning?

2.  The second section of the psalm is David speaking to God. He states the actions—the breaking of silence—that overcomes the burdens of vv. 3-4 and creates the blessings of vv. 1-2:

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.

It is the guilt of sin that weighs heavily upon us. Sin that is not acknowledged, that is self-justified, that is un-confessed and un-repented of, will prevent us from receiving the blessing God wants to give us. Do not keep silence to yourself or before the Lord about your transgressions, iniquities and sins.

3.  The last section of this psalm (vv. 8-11) is God speaking to us.

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. ⁹ Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle…. ¹⁰ …the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.

APPLICATION:                                        

To egotistically and stubbornly refuse to admit my sin is to be as a stubborn ass that will not be guided by its master. The result is to feel the tugging, straining, discomfort and wasting away of life’s energy. God is not evil and will not lead us toward anything that is bad for us. How much better it will be to trust Him, be honest before Him, and know that His love and forgiveness awaits. Then we can learn from Him, grow in strength and maturity, and know the fulfillment of being and doing what He created us to do and be—of being led by Him and knowing His blessing.

PRAYER:

Lord, I thank You that I am one whose transgressions have been forgiven. Thank You that because of Your great love and forgiveness my sins are not held to account against me. Help me share this good news with others.

Through Christ Jesus. Amen.  –AP