Thought to Guide Your Reading
Today's reading is an emotional rollercoaster where David deals with the turmoil of his sin.Psalm (P)Synopsis
Psalm 32
Those who confess their mistakes to God and receive forgiveness are blessed. When David hid his sin from God he felt unending pressure inside. When he confessed his sin, the pressure left.Psalm 51
David cries out to God because he has sinned against Him. He longs for a clean feeling and wants to be with God again. He asks that God keep Zion as his home and heal his land.Psalm 86
David calls for God's ear to hear and help him. He knows no one can help like God. They have a good history together and David knows God will put him back on his feet.Psalm 122
David leaped for joy because he was able to worship God again. Jerusalem is a wonderful place for God's presence. May it always have peace!How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right
Hiding his sin caused David more pain than confessing them to God.
David adamantly states that his issues were intensified when he kept all of his mistakes hidden from God. The pressure was released when he confessed his sins to God. This is why his advice is to stay on the straight and narrow. He knows going off God's path only leads to heartache and stress. Stay with God and confess your mistakes before God to live stress-free.Psalm 32 provides the best reason why churches should be places for people to openly confess their mistakes. When churches become museums for good people who never need forgiveness those who feel they don't meet that high standard stay away. Even though no church would consider itself a museum of people above reproach we must understand that our culture views us in that way by default; therefore, churches must overcome the negative stereotype of being a museum for good people who never need to confess sins by openly encouraging and providing time and space for people to admit their mistakes and ask for help setting things right, whether in public or in private. Having a song after the sermon and a quiet, generic conversation about the need for "prayers" cannot be the extent of a church's attempt at setting things right.
David wants to renew his relationship with God.
David knows his mistake with Bathsheba puts him in jeopardy of losing both his relationship with God and his possession of God's Spirit. This is why Psalm 51 has such beautiful and vulnerable language—David wants to make up for all he has done to God. He knows the only thing that can save him is humility:Going through the motions doesn’t please you,
a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship
when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
don’t for a moment escape God’s notice. (51:16-17, The Message)
David has great excitement when asked to worship God.
Allow me to make an unnecessary assumption—Psalm 122 was written shortly after David's son died and he returned to his life. David prayed and wept on the floor for seven days. He felt mournful and greatly disturbed because of how he betrayed God. He knows that his relationship with God was saved through God's forgiveness alone. So the first time someone asks David to go into the Tabernacle to worship God He leaps for joy. All is well again! David continues to have God's Spirit. He still has his position. God has not abandoned him as He abandoned Saul. When we acknowledge what God has done for us, we, too, will leap for joy when someone suggests a time of worship to Him.What are you hiding from God?
