Bible Study HF200 - Psalm 32: A Miskil on Guidance
To: Hebraic-Foundations@YahooGroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009
Subject: Bible Study HF200 - Psalm 32: A Miskil on Guidance
Hebraics,
Here we are at study HF200. Actually this should be numbered our 203rd
study. I had placed four consecutive studies, part 1, 2, 3, 4, entitled 'The
New Adam Race' under the same number, HF032. Be that what it may we will
need to stay with the current numbering system.
In the book of Psalms you will find certain Psalms designated a 'miskil,' or
what the ancients called, 'a Psalm of enlightenment'. A miskil is the Lord's
call for His people to contemplate deeply on how He works in their lives.
We may wonder what place these Psalms may have in our lives. The short
response is, 'Very much indeed.' In this study we want to take an overview
at a miskil that is quoted from by the apostle Paul in his letter to the
Romans.
This is Bible Study HF200 - Psalm 32: A Miskil on Guidance.
Before I share more on Psalm 32, let me relate an experience that I had many
years ago, 1976 to be exact. We had just begun our pioneer work in bringing
Christian Challenge into existence. We are living in a small rented house
with no outside source of income, and, believe it or not, very little
congregation to speak of. (The story of Christian Challenge is a tale to be
told.)
Anyway, I'm laying in bed and my mind is unsettled; 'What am I doing here?
How will I take care of my family?' We aren't going to make it!' That is
when I had this nudging in my spirit to get up, that the Lord wanted to have
a word with me.
I went to our kitchen table with my Bible. It opened to the book of Psalms.
That is when I began to hear in my spirit some instructions from the Lord.
He said that the book of Psalms was placed in the sacred Scriptures for a
reason. That they will teach us how to pray, how to think, how to prosper
properly, so on and so on.
When I got up from the table I was thoroughly refreshed. All doubt was gone.
And from that moment on I've held a deep love for the book of Psalms.
Now with that in mind lets take a look at Psalm 32 -
>"How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!
> How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in
> whose spirit there is no deceit!
> "When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning
> all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was
> drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.
> "I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, 'I
> will confess my transgressions to the LORD'; and You forgave the guilt of my
> sin. Selah.
> "Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be
> found; surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.
> "You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me
> with songs of deliverance. Selah.
> "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will
> counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule
> which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold
> them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.
> "Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in the LORD,
> lovingkindness shall surround him. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you
> righteous ones; and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
In Psalm 32, we find ourselves moving from the joy of having our sins
forgiven, to the promise of divine guidance. What gives this particular
Psalm extra credence is that Paul quotes from this Psalm in Romans 4:7,8:
"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins
have been covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into
account."
Now we have direct relevance. What makes this so enlightening to new
covenant believers is that our sins were atoned for at the cross. Of course
this does not mean that we have permission to live sinful lives. Quite the
contrary. The other side of the cross has to do with the implanted nature of
Christ in the believer. And while believers do sin, it is enough to say that
sin is contrary to our new nature. Whereas a sinner sins by nature and takes
no thought to it, yet when a child of God sins it is by temptation, and in
his sin he hurts to the deep of his heart. A child of God is painfully aware
of sins in his life.
With that in view, David addresses the agony one can experience when we fail
to account for our sins to the Lord. Why is it we must blame others for our
own short comings when the blame really belongs to us. What sorrow and pain
we could escape by simply being honest about our failings. Of course the key
is to learn that forgiveness of our sins is but a breath away. John said
that if we will confess our sin, the Lord is faithful to forgive us and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Thank the Lord for forgiveness and cleansing. But it doesn't end with
forgiveness. When forgiveness is in place, the Lord then appoints us to a
walk of righteousness. For a walk to be righteous, it has to be under His
guidance. David said, "He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His
name's sake." (Psalm 23:3)
And so in Psalm 32, we also hear the Lord say, "I will instruct you and
teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye
upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they
will not come near to you." (Psalm 32:8,9)
Notice we are not to be like the mule or horse? A major problem some
believers have is with bull headedness and uncontrolled thoughts. Our
greatest struggle is with our own thought life. This is why in the new
covenant we are told to have our minds renewed. Peter also tells us to gird
up the loins of our mind, that is, we are to keep our thoughts in check.
There is a saying - 'If Satan can control your thought life, he can control
all your life.'
Where do we begin? God said through Isaiah, "Let the wicked forsake his way
and the unrighteous man his thoughts." We were all wicked at one time. God
forgave us. Now it is time to forsake our past way of doing and thinking.
Now we must learn to follow the Lord in paths of righteousness. And this
brings us to the mainstay of guidance.
When a person truly meets Jesus, something wonderful happens in the human
spirit. This happening is so powerful that Paul simply uses the term 'the
peace of God' to describe it. He says, "And the peace of God, which
surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus."
This supernatural peace is God's governing peace. It is this peace that
keeps us flowing in the path of righteousness. In one place the prophet
said, "He makes peace your borders." In another place we are told to let
peace be the umpire in our hearts. (Cf. Psalm 147:14; Col 3:16)
When the apostle Paul spoke of our training in righteousness, he was
addressing a makeover of both our spiritual and our thought life. We learn
to apply God's Word to all situations. We learn to think God's thoughts, and
speak God's Word, and walk in God's ways. We learn the flow of peace. It is
in this walk of righteousness that we begin to have formed in us "covenant
consciousness."
What did the Lord say in Psalm 32? He said, "I will instruct you and teach
you in the way you should go." A true covenant walk, works around a
relationship. Jesus said, "I am the door of the sheep; if anyone enters
through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."
To go in and out speaks of a covenant walk. It speaks of the leading of the
Shepherd. The paths of righteousness includes "doors of faith." In the new
covenant, Jesus personally leads each believer, each marriage, each family,
and each flock in paths of righteousness that is according to His will, and
according to the need of each situation. This is what the Lord was teaching
David in his Psalm of contemplation.
Some believers struggle because they've not yet learned to trust the Lord
completely to lead their life. Others struggle because they fear that
following the Lord will mean suffering. Certainly to walk with the Lord can
include suffering, but sufferings are usually trying situations. Yet even in
the trying circumstances the promise remains. Isaiah said, "The steadfast of
mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You."
Well, are you ready to take the trappings off? Think about it.
The study is open for discussion,
Blessings,
Buddy
--
Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
"How beautiful upon the mountains..." Isa 52:7
Web: http://ChristianChallenge.Org
blog: http://www.buddymartin.net/blog/
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)