May 25 - Psalms 31-33
In these three psalms David is very quick to confess that God is his refuge and his strength. At the same time when he speaks of his sin, you can feel the hurt and the trouble it is causing in his life. It is not only effecting him physically, but he is sensing how other people are responding differently to him. There is no doubt that David loves the Lord and he is crying out to Him in confession and in praise, but that does not take away all of the effects of sin. We must all understand the lesson this is teaching us. God does not remove all of the consequences of sin the moment we pray for forgiveness, because then, we would be tempted to go on sinning. God hates sin. His goal is not just to forgive our sin, but to eliminate it from our lives. Therefore, He is going to allow us to experience pain when we sin. The victory comes when we defeat the sin and cease to allow a sin to be a part of our lives. This is possible, and it is what God wants for each of us.
David knows the need to be forgiven of sin. He says that a person who has his sin forgiven is blessed. Then, he mentions and important point. Blessed is the person in whose spirit there is no deceit. The reason for this is that sin can't be forgiven if it is covered up. Sin must be confessed to be forgiven. If a person is trying to deceive others into thinking he does not have a particular sin in his life, when it is there, God can't forgive that sin. That sin is hidden, but not forgiven. Remember, I John 1:9. Total confession and repentance must precede forgiveness and cleansing.
I really appreciate Psalm 32:9 - "Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you." What about you? Do you have to be forced to spend time with the Lord and to go to Him to confess your sins? He knows your heart. Fall in love with the Lord and run to Him freely. That pleases His heart so much. You do not really have a love relationship with the Lord if you have to be forced to spend time with Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 34-36.
David knows the need to be forgiven of sin. He says that a person who has his sin forgiven is blessed. Then, he mentions and important point. Blessed is the person in whose spirit there is no deceit. The reason for this is that sin can't be forgiven if it is covered up. Sin must be confessed to be forgiven. If a person is trying to deceive others into thinking he does not have a particular sin in his life, when it is there, God can't forgive that sin. That sin is hidden, but not forgiven. Remember, I John 1:9. Total confession and repentance must precede forgiveness and cleansing.
I really appreciate Psalm 32:9 - "Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you." What about you? Do you have to be forced to spend time with the Lord and to go to Him to confess your sins? He knows your heart. Fall in love with the Lord and run to Him freely. That pleases His heart so much. You do not really have a love relationship with the Lord if you have to be forced to spend time with Him.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 34-36.