[David
speaks to hearers and himself]
1How blessed is he whose wrongdoing and
rebellion against God is forgiven, whose sin is covered!
2How blessed is the man to whom the
LORD does not count offense and guilt, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!
3When I kept silent about my sin, my body
wore out through my distress crying all day long.
[David
speaks to God]
4For day and night, Your hand was heavy
upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the drought of summer.
<Selah>
5I confessed my sin to You and my
offense and guilt I did not hide. I said, “I will confess my wrongdoing to the
Lord,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. <Selah>
[David’s
lesson to hearers and himself]
6Therefore, let everyone who is godly
pray to You in a time when You may be found (before the end times, while God
still offers grace and forgiveness to humankind); surely in a flood of great
waters [great troubles and dangers] they will not reach him.
[David
speaks to God]
7You are my hiding place;
You preserve (watch over and keep) me
from trouble;
You surround me with songs
of deliverance. <Selah>
[God
speaks to hearers]
8I will instruct you to understand
wisely and direct/point you in the way in which you should go. I will counsel
you with My eye upon you.
9Do not be as the horse or mule, which
have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in
check, otherwise they will not come near you.
[David
speaks to hearers and himself]
10Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but he who trusts in the LORD [for his strength and safety from temptation and
sin], lovingkindness shall surround him.
11Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you
blameless ones, and shout for joy all you who are upright in heart.
(My
interpretation from the Hebrew)
In these verses, David stated
God blesses a person when He forgives his or her wrongdoing and rebellion
against Him. Have you ever considered God’s forgiveness a blessing?
In today’s world, many
people do not acknowledge God and, thus, do not ask forgiveness from their
Creator. Sin is rebellion against the Creator and His laws. Since God created all
people, sin against the Creator affects the one who sins. Sinning creates dissonance
in relationships and within one’s self. A rift occurs and disharmony happens. David
said it well in verse three when he said, “When I kept silent about my sin, my body
wore out through my distress-crying all day long.” David said his distress -
his guilt - about his sin wore him out and exhausted him.
Because sin affects all
parts of our lives, God’s forgiveness is very important. God’s forgiveness
gives relief and creates anew the person’s relationship with God, other people,
nature and him or herself. His forgiveness removes guilt. Forgiveness from God is
a blessing.
After David experienced
God’s forgiveness and release from guilt, he encouraged every person to seek
God while they still had time before God’s kingdom reigned. After the time of
the Messiah’s return, it would be too late for anyone to seek and receive God’s
forgiveness. That would be the time of judgment. David spoke of his sin,
confession, and release from guilt with God’s forgiveness. He encouraged people
to seek God, experience release from sin and guilt, and gain new vitality in
life by confessing and receiving God’s forgiveness.
·
David
spoke to God and praised Him because of His forgiveness. He explained to people
that they could have God’s
Ø
presence,
Ø
power,
and
Ø
strength
before they sinned and
experienced the guilt from sin.
·
David
said God was his hiding place.
Ø
He
could run to Him and
Ø
hide
from the temptations that could trip him.
·
David
said God was his guard who kept His heart from trouble.
Ø
He
could count on God to keep temptation away so he would not sin.
·
David’s
final thought was that he could remember how God protected and saved him from
temptation and sin in the past and
Ø
choose
to be strong and rely on the LORD again to keep away from temptation and sin in
the present time.
Each of these things required
David’s will to join with God’s will.
Ø
David
had to choose and rely on God to be his guard.
Ø
He
had to choose to run to God to hide against temptation.
Ø
David
had to intentionally recall and rely upon what God did for him in the past and
knew He would do for him at that time, too.
Should that not be enough,
God responded to David. He told him He would
Ø
instruct
him,
Ø
make
him wise to understand, and
Ø
direct
him.
God’s instruction was the
preemptive side of avoiding temptation and sin. Making David wise came from instruction
and living. Making wise is part preemptive and part practical learning applied
from the past. The other, letting God direct David, was a present tense action
of the will. David had to choose intentionally to follow God’s direction.
He was not to be like the mule and horse that required a bridle all the time.
Instead, David was to learn from experience and God’s teaching to know God’s
will so He would not have to bridle him physically with closed doors and
windows.
God expects His children
to listen, learn, and obey His will and His best choices for them. He expects
them to rely upon His strength and security for them. God expects His people to
remember who He has been for them so they can stand strong against temptation to
sin in the present. Each of these come from instruction, wisdom, and guidance
in the past and present to be used in the present and future.
David said those who trust
in the LORD for His strength and security, will have His lovingkindness
surround them. God will envelope them in His love, mercy, and forgiveness. The
wicked will grieve, but the one who trusts in the LORD will rejoice, just as
the one whom God forgives rejoices at the blessing of receiving God’s
forgiveness.
David exhorted the people
of God not to be too late to receive God’s forgiveness, not to wait until the
time of judgment. Instead, he encouraged them to confess and receive God’s
forgiveness now, to bask in His love and mercy. Better yet, David taught the
people how to avoid the pitfalls of temptation and sin.
Ø
Learn
from, grow wise, and follow God.
Ø
Intentionally
accept what He has to teach and instruct you.
Ø
Actively apply the learning and wisdom by
following God’s leading and direction.
When you do this, you will
not fall prey to temptation and sin.
This lesson is not just
for Old Testament people. God gives His children a Helper now who also teaches,
gives wisdom, and helps people to remember all Jesus said and what God has done
(John 14:26). This message of David’s is for each of God’s children throughout
time.
As Christians today, we
can have access to God’s power and strength to be our hiding place and guard
against temptation. We also have our remembrances of God working to defend us
to keep us strong against temptation. These are defensive weapons. Besides
these, God said He will give us wisdom and teaching to empower us against
temptation. He said He would give us direction on how to use them and overcome
temptation. These are offensive weapons. These offensive and defensive weapons
against temptation and sin come through Christ’s Holy Spirit.
When we fall to
temptation, God blesses us with forgiveness, love, and mercy when we confess
and seek Him. He has a plan because He gave humankind free will to choose whom
to follow – Him or themselves. God knows our weaknesses and provides mercy and
love through forgiveness for those who confess their sins. Non-Christians can
receive God’s blessing of forgiveness, too. When they call on the Lord as
Savior, they can have God’s teaching, wisdom, and direction to fight temptation
and sin, too.
Notice either way, whether
with or without sin, if we go humbly before the LORD God, He will show His love
and mercy to us. God will bless us with defensive and offensive weapons. At any
time, then, we can do as David instructed. We can be glad in the LORD, and
rejoice and shout for joy because God is greater than temptation, sin, and
Satan. He wins in the end and we can have His power to overcome in our lives
now.
Are you a non-believer who
wants to receive forgiveness for your wrongdoing and rebellion against God?
Come to Him confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Savior and God
will bless you with forgiveness. He will teach you and give you wisdom. God
will give you direction and lead you as you fight temptation and sin.
Are you a Christian who
has fallen to temptation and sinned? God waits to bless you with forgiveness.
He wants to share His love, kindness, and mercy with you. God wants to prepare
you to fight this battle. He wants to provide a refuge and keep you safe. God
wants you to remember He is for you and loves you. He will provide victory over
temptation now and over death.
Whether you are a new
believer, a Christian working in a secular job, or a full time Christian service
worker, God wants you to be glad, rejoice, and shout for joy because you have
beaten temptation and sin with His power and strength, and knowledge and
wisdom. He wants to bless you with forgiveness.
How
long has it been since you sought God’s forgiveness?
How
long as it been since you have let God empower you and fight your battles?
Maybe
it is time for you to hear this message from David.
