June 28, 2023 -- Psalm 32:6-7 -- The Psalm Series: Guilt versus Troubles ~ separating them

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

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
Psalm 32:6-7 ESV
 
The start of this psalm is a prayer acknowledging the blessedness of knowing God and His great mercy in extending forgiveness, and mercy in counting His people as righteous, through the blood of the Lamb, and how confession itself heals the bones. No wonder today’s reading begins with “therefore” because all that went there before informs what we read today.
 
A believer must distinguish between suffering which is the result of his sin and the struggles and troubles which result from being a Christian in a hostile, unbelieving world. As forgiven believers, it is the great joy and privilege of our hearts to praise our God and seek Him in prayer. By whom will God be found? By the one who is godly, who knows the freedom that comes with the forgiveness of sins. God shows Himself merciful to the one who knows all he brings to God is his need for God and God’s cleansing and healing.
 
What verse 6 also shows is how quickly the forgiven man and the woman set free from the entanglements of guilt will then experience other kinds of trials. One who knows himself forgiven will experience “great waters”. These are temptations and pressures to sin. Or great waters can be the push-back of worldly people, both within the church and outside the church, who hate God and do not want you to rejoice in Him. You will experience the tossing and tumult of such great churnings, but it will not disrupt the peace you have sealed to your heart by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus. Nor will it cause you to question the goodness of God, for His forgiveness and the accompanying new life you have in Christ is greater than the rumblings of this world.
 
God is our hiding place. What a beautiful picture. Right now, even as I am writing this, there is downpour, rain beating hard on every exposed surface. Picture it. If you are about to be caught in a rainstorm, you seek shelter. People rush to bus shelters or dash from exposed areas to stand in the doorways of businesses just to get away from the all-soaking rain. They seek a hiding place. The LORD our God is our hiding place. No matter what is happening all around you, the torrential spouts of wickedness all around, the believer has the great security of knowing the LORD our God is in charge. He is the shelter of all who trust in Him. The shouts of deliverance uttered by the believer are not the gloating of one who will not suffering, but it is confident war-cry that Jesus, the Captain of Salvation, has already won the victory even as the believer is facing storms. Therefore, believers are prepared to face anything in the full confidence of His victory.
 
Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. Let Your people praise You, God, the Hiding Place, security, for all who trust in You. Let Your people pray to You, LORD, based on Jesus’ accomplished work. Let Your people, as they pray to You, experience the help of Your Holy Spirit, Who is the seal guaranteeing Your protection now. Holy Spirit, as the psalm pictures, we pray preserve believers no matter how violent the rush of great waters is now and the assaults of the enemy to come. You alone, Triune God, safeguard the life of Your people. You bring to the heart and mind such blessedness, mercy, and peace that Your people’s lips overflow declaring the fullness of Your goodness. Your sheltered people cannot help joining all the others everywhere who know the intimacy of Your loving arms so completely they offer shouts of victory and acclaim to Your great Name. Amen.

https://youtu.be/BppKOFLig2w "Only There" Shane and Shane

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