Psalm 32 Continued…
In verses 8-10, David talks about the—The Wisdom of God. Here the Psalm shifts gears, warning the reader not to be like a horse or mule that requires a bit and bridle. Those who do not want God, who do not care about God, choose the hard way, the way of sin.
This is what David wrote, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:
Psalm 32:8-10 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. 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. Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.
You have to be very close to the Lord if you’re going to be guided by His eye. But there are many Christians today who don’t live in the will of God. They are way out there, yet God will guide them by His overruling providence, as we learn in the little book of Esther. There He compares the believer who will not be led by God to an old hard-headed mule.
It reminds me of the man in Texas who visited his friend who had a little donkey. They hitched it to a wagon hoping to take a ride and visit some mutual friends. Before they got into the wagon, the owner reached into the wagon, took out a two-by-four, and hit the donkey over the head. The man asked his friend, “Why in the world did you do that?” His friend replied, “I do that to get his attention.”
Many of us are like that donkey. That’s why scripture says, “Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle, or they will not come to you.”
Verse 11 is the last verse and it—Ends on a High Note…
Psalm 32:11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Here, the one who groaned under the weight of his sin now rejoices and shouts for joy. Why shouldn’t he sing and shout praises to God? He has come and taken away our sins, and washed us thoroughly, and given us a new heart. And just think about all those promises in His Word that we have to look forward to. We should be the happiest people on the planet.
People today have an incomplete view of repentance. Repentance isn’t penance, reparation, or self-punishment. And it isn’t just looking inside one’s self. True repentance involves admission of guilt, sorrow, remorse, grief, and regret. But it is primarily a turning, a changing, a choice.
Forgiveness does not necessarily mean God removes the consequences of our sins. However, the believer has assurance that God forgives sin. Forgiveness is the removal of sin.
It is lifted. The debt is cancelled. All the debt of sin—that is impossible for us to pay off —is forgiven in Christ’s work on the Cross. We can have full assurance of that. When we understand forgiveness, we’re thankful.
This psalm has a thankful message. There is great joy in forgiveness. The only real happiness is forgiveness from sin. Apart from forgiveness, there’s no real joy.
To live in sin is to live in grief. To live in sin is to lose joy. The only real happiness is being forgiven. Everything else is an artificial attempt to dull the pain.
Sin brings sorrow, confession brings forgiveness, and forgiveness brings joy. How many struggles in our lives are due to sin! Why not confess it? Why not admit to God what He already knows? Why not ask Him this minute? Why not come to the Cross of Jesus Christ?
PRAY
Father, never allow me to grow comfortable in my own sin. Grant me the courage, through your Spirit, to be quick to confess my sin to you so that I can live in joy and walk in step with you.