Read Psalm
31-33 & Acts
21:15-40
To discover:
As you read note the good things
God is ready to give his people.
To ponder:
Psalm
31 is another call for deliverance that relies on God’s righteous commitment to
do what is right for those who have taken refuge in him (31v1). The language of
God as “rock” and “fortress,” acting for the sake of his “name” and so
reputation is now familiar (31v2-5). David needs quick rescue as it seems his
enemies have laid some kind of trap for him (31v2, 4). And so with the words
Jesus would use at his death, David “commits” his “spirit” into God’s hands to
“redeem” and so free him from his predicament. Again, affirming his hatred of
the idolatrous and his trust in God, David reflects on God’s past faithfulness
(31v6-8) and, in the light of it, appeals for his mercy. His strength has
failed not because of sickness, but because of the slander and conspiracy of
enemies that has even caused his friends to withdraw from him (31v9-13). But in
faith he prays that his enemies would put to shame and not him, with their
“lying lips” silence by death (31v14-18). As before, this would be for God’s
face to “shine” on David in the sense of him having God’s attention and so
benefit from the glory of his nature. He then declares the greatness of God’s
goodness seen to be bestowed on those who seek refuge in him, and praises God
for having received his love in rescue when besieged (31v19-22). So he urges
the “saints” to love and hope in God, for he “preserves the faithful” and pays
back the “proud” (31v23-24). Once more the psalm can be seen as a shadow
outline of Christ’s later experience, whilst providing a frame for prayers we
might pray. Above all, it reminds us that our trust and hope in God to provide
refuge against death itself is well placed, as he is faithful, good and loving.
Psalm 32 reminds us what is
necessary to be saved from death. It declares the blessed happiness of those
who are forgiven, which is to have their sins “covered” and not counted against
them. It’s a profoundly reassuring affirmation of the absolute nature of God’s
forgiveness. However, those who receive it are those who are also reformed, in
whom there is therefore “no deceit.” (32v1-2). David recounts his own
experience of this forgiveness. Whilst not confessing his sin, he seemed to
acknowledge some physical affliction – or at least the sort of weakness that
accompanies despair (31v3-4). But when he acknowledge and so admitted his sin
to God with confession, God forgave his guilt. It is not stated, but the
assumption is that his sufferings then lifted.
Because of God’s great love,
forgiveness really is that easy if we are sincere. And so David calls “the
godly” (ie. those who love God, yet still sin) to call on God for this
forgiveness whilst they can, confident that when the “mighty waters” of
judgement (see the flood) rise, they will be protected in God as David is. 32v7
probably suggests his sense that as king amongst Israelite worshippers, God has
surrounded him with songs of deliverance which they sing.
In promising to “watch over you” (a
plural you) 32v8-10 seems to be a word from God. He says how he will instruct
his people, and his concern is that they “come to him” willingly rather than
needing the force needed to turn the ignorant horse of mule. In context this
probably means that if they trust him and repent quickly when they sin, they
can be sure of his unfailing love. But if not, they may face the woes of the
wicked in punishment as David did, in order to bring them to repentance
(32v8-10). This warning stands for Christians too (1 Cor 11v27-33). In his
patience, God’ may punish those who confess faith but do not turn from sin in
order to bring them to repentance. Far better, however, to “rejoice in the
LORD” (ie. in his readiness to forgive) as one of the righteous and upright in
heart (32v11, Phil 4v4).
Perhaps intentionally, Psalm 33
starts where Psalm 32 ends – rejoicing in the LORD, and with music. He is
praised for his faithfulness in keeping his word, which reflects his righteous
commitment to doing right, and is also seen in his worldwide commitment to
justice (33v4-5). The whole world are therefore called to revere him as
creator, for he “foils the plans of the nations” (presumably when they are
unjust, 33v5) whilst his own plans endure forever (33v6-11). This is why one
should trust in God not man. So “the nation whose God is the LORD” (ie. Israel)
are blessed, for whereas an army, warrior or horse can’t save, God can. Indeed,
from heaven he considers everything everyone does, with his “eyes” on those who
fear him and so hope in his unfailing love in such a way as to ensure they are
delivered from premature death (33v12-19). So the psalmist (not necessarily
David, see title) declares he and those singing will “wait in hope” for God’s
help, rejoicing that they trust him – no doubt because this means he is for
them. They therefore pray for his “unfailing love” to rest upon them, in the
sense of his being ready to act for their good (33v20-22). This psalm therefore
affirms the benefits God’s people have over all others in the world. Through
the gospel it is nothing less than freedom from death itself that he
guarantees.
Praying it home:
Praise God for his love that stands
ready to help, forgive and save us. Pray that you would remain truly repentant,
and wait in hope for God to act, especially in times of trial.
Thinking
further:
None today.
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