Explore the Bible Lesson Preview August 13, 2017 The Cleansing Background and Lesson: Psalm 32: 1-11

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview August 13, 2017 The Cleansing Background and Lesson: Psalm 32: 1-11 Motivation: HCSB: p. 911: Ps 32 Title: Maskil Maskil may be derived from a root word meaning insight. For this reason, some have suggested that psalms with this title deal with wisdom or instruction. The problem is that many of the psalms bearing this title do not have teaching elements (even though this psalm does have them in vv. 8-9). It is also possible to connect the word with the idea of skill, which is closely tied to the OT concept of wisdom. In this sense, the title refers to a skillfull or an artistic psalm. I. The Contrast How joyful is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! 2 Ho w joyful is the man the Lord does not charge with sin and in whose spirit is no deceit! 3 When I kept silent, my bones became brittle from my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy on me; my strength was drained as in the summer s heat. Selah. (1-4) A. The Joy of Forgiveness (1-2) HCSB: p. 911: 32:1-2 On joyful, see 1:1. Four different Hebrew terms are used for sin in these verses, highlighting different aspects of sin: (1) 1 / 8

2 pesha transgression ) has the basic idea of rebellion, (2) hata ah sin ) is a more general term referring to a deliberate offense, (3) awon (also translated sin ) has the idea of going astray, and (4) remiyyah deceit ) emphasizes falsehood or even hypocrisy. There are also three different Hebrew verbs associated with the first three of these terms for sin, also showing different aspects of forgiveness: (1) the root ns forgiven ) is literally lifted up an deemphasizes the burden of sin being lifted form the person, (2) the root kasha covered ) means to hide or cover something that is offensive, and (3) the root chashav charge ) can mean reckon or regard, but in legal contexts it means to reckon as liable for punishment (impute with guilt). B. The Barrenness of Conviction (3-4) HCSB: p. 911: 3-4 The silence here is quite specific not confessing sin (v. 5). The references to bones brittle groaning, and strength drained represent physical manifestation of a person who is suffering. The heavy hand of God represents God s wrath and punishment (38:2; 39:10), but here it is specifically due to the conviction of sin. 2 / 8

3 II. The Decision Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and You took away the guilt of my sin. Selah (5) HCSB : p. 911: 32:5 In contrast to the suffering in verses 3-4, the confession of sin brings relief because God took away the guilt of sin, which is another way of describing forgiveness. Guilt is not a subjective feeling but liability for punishment in a legal sense. Mere removal of the feeling over sin is clearly not intended, since God brings the conviction. What is needed is forgiveness (vv. 1-2) III. The Counsel Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to You at a time that You may be found. When great floodwaters come, they will not reach him. 7 You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct you and show you the way to go; with My eye on you, I will give counsel. 9 Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, that must be controlled with bit and bridle or else it will not come near you. (6-9) 3 / 8

4 A. Protection (6-7) HCSB: p. 911: 32:6-7 Floodwaters represent the overwhelming troub le or disaster that the psalmist was facing as a result of his sin (18:16; Is 28:2, 17; 30:28). The hiding place is not used in the same sense as in other psalms where it means protection from enemies. Here it is deliverance from the overwhelming guilt that was brought about by God s reaction to the psalmist s own sin. B. Provision (8) 1. Instruction: I will instruct you J. Vernon McGee writes that the primary purpose of this psalm is instruction. David is giving instruction here. He is telling us that he had made his confession to God, was forgiven, and had found complete restoration. He found shelter in God and was given a song of deliverance. ( Thru the Bible, vol. 2, p. 729) Often we speculate about the consequences of confession. How will people react? What will I need to do next? God says to do the next right thing and He will provide instruction for the next step. 2. Revelation: show you the way to go Modern secularism believes that if a thing can t be understood intellectually, it isn t real. The idea that God speaks to a person through His Word, His Spirit or even close Christian friends is foreign to the modern mind. But, God promises to communicate with us on a level above human explanation or expectation. 3. Counseling: give counsel At Houston s First, we are blessed to have perhaps the finest church based Christian counseling center around. In the Juliana Poor Memorial Counseling Center, we have 32 Counselors that service 5 Facilities which include Cypress, Sienna, Faith Center, HBU and the Loop Campus. During the Fiscal year of ending in June 2017 we had about 9500 client appointments. First Hope Job ministries had 89 people that they helped find jobs, the Preparation for Marriage Program had 226 couples that came through the program. We also have the following programs - Celebrate Recovery, Divorce Care about 10 people per week, Divorce Care for kids about 24 to 25 kids for the year, and Financial Counseling met with 25 people in 16 meetings. 4 / 8

5 C. Prevention: Do not be like a horse or mule, without understanding, (9) It s been said that anger gets you in trouble, but pride keeps you there. This is a warning against stubborn pride. Proverbs 16:18 says Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. Often, our words become the trigger for a quarrel. James uses a similar analogy in chapter 3 of his epistle Now when we put bits in the mouths of horses, we also guide the whole animal. (3:3). James went on to write And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell. (3:6) HCSB, p. 911, 32:8-9 This is a wisdom section in the psalm as evidenced by the terms instruct and counsel. This might be related to its designation as a Maskil. A horse and mule need to be controlled in order to be useful to people. Otherwise, they are too obstinate and will not obey their masters. In the human world, they are best compared to fools (Pr 26:3). IV. The Conclusion Many pains come to the wicked, but the one who trusts in the Lord will have faithful love surrounding him. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart. 5 / 8

6 (10-11) A. The Choice (10) 1. Continue in sin: Many pains come to the wicked David knew the pains of unconfessed sin including guilt, shame, and loss of fellowship with God. In Psalm 51:3 he wrote my sin is ever before me. The unwillingness to confess sin may seem to be the path of least resistance, but it is a road to decline. 2. Confess sin: the one who trusts in the Lord. Confession of sin requires trust in His faithful love. While sin may result in a temporary loss of fellowship, we trust in our covenantal relationship to remain strong. B. The Consequence (11) While remaining in sin brings pain, confession results in: 1. Gladness, rejoicing and joy 2. Right standing before God and an upright heart. Application: 1. Confession and forgiveness bring joy. 2. Confession requires transparency with God. 6 / 8

7 3. When we fall, God promises to catch us. Leader Pack Item 8: Poster: God in the Psalms Illustrator, p. 60: The Thanksgiving Psalms Notes: **You may now access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: y.org ; also, the Highpoint Bible Study (Downtown) is available on MP3 at the HFBC site under the Highpoint link/downloads. Dates: 8/20 Back to School Sunday; 8/23 Midlink/Milestones Preview Night; 8/27 SPF Birthday Bash; 8/30 11/15 Midlink on Wednesdays; 9/4 Labor Day Church offices closed; 9/8 - Marriage Matters; 9/8-10 SPF Family Camp; 9/10 MIYCO; 9/10 Dr. Jeremiah Loop; 9/10-17 Museum of the Bible Exhibit; 9/16 Men:Serve; 9/17 Dr. Peter Loop; 9/24 SPF Birthday Bash; 9/24 LBS Fall Luncheon; 10/15 First Camp Preschool. 10/ / 8

8 Men s Retreat; 10/22 - Parent Commitment. 8 / 8