May 16, 2023 — Psalm 32

“Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you. Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.” Psalm 32

“What a wondrous God we have, and what great joy the Godly have in the forgiveness of the Lord. The wicked here are compared to the mule and horse which can only be moved with a bridle in their mouth; many sorrows will come to the wicked. Not so the Christian. We have a hiding place in God who will preserve us from trouble. His great mercy and forgiveness surrounds the righteous. The Godly have every confidence in this mighty God who not only forgives our sins, but will take us to be with Him forever.” (devotional-reflections-from-the-bible.com; Psalm 32)

“Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven” — I would say that all of us feel that way — those who are in the business of seeking forgiveness and spending serious time focusing upon our sinfulness. I know this does not sound like something to spend every moment of every day focusing time on — pondering our sinfulness. But there are no words that have more meaning to me and to so many Christians than the words: “Your sins are forgiven.”

As a pastor I get to see the smile on people’s faces, or the relief that is evident when they hear those words: “Your sins are forgiven.” These words are life-affirming — they are redeeming — they are to be an integral part of our daily if not weekly walk of faith.

The Psalmist continues: “I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you.” Take the time in your day to look to G-d to say “I confess my transgressions to you, Lord” — and know that when you do, our Lord is saying back to you “Your sins are forgiven.”

Prayer: O God, our heavenly Father, with whom is grace and much forgiveness, be merciful to us who were born in sin and cannot but sin and fall short every day. Forgive us our many transgressions and account them against us no more, but make us Your heirs through Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son, who was delivered into death for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Amen.

Pastor Dave

May 15, 2023 — Psalm 31

“In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame;

  in your righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me. You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead me and guide me, take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge.

Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have taken heed of my adversities, and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away. Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was beset as a city under siege. I had said in my alarm, “I am driven far from your sight.” But you heard my supplications when I cried out to you for help. Love the Lord, all you his saints. The Lord preserves the faithful, but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.” Psalm 31:1-10, 21-24

“The 31st psalm is a universal psalm of thanks, a psalm of prayer, and a psalm of comfort, all at the same time. It is spoken in the person of Christ and of His saints, who, on account of the Word of God, are plagued their entire lives—inwardly with fears and troubles; outwardly with persecutions, slander, and contempt. Yet they are comforted and delivered by God out of all of them.” (Martin Luther, Reading the Psalms with Luther)

“In you Lord, I seek refuge.” We can never know for certain who wrote these Psalms, but many of them are attributed to King David. And of course, we know that David had his dark days. His affair with the wife of Uriah the Hittite caused him much grief. He lost his child — he lost so much. And yet, if he did write this Psalm, he gives voice to his ultimate relationship with G-d — it is in the Lord that he found refuge. He goes on to say: “Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.”

Often times we believe that we have done too much to be worthy of G-d’s love and grace. We believe that whatever sin we have committed is too much to be forgiven. Again, this is why we read the Psalms — and should pray the Psalms. These are words written by sinners just like us. And it is in their words, we find hope — and strength: “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for taking from us that heavy load of our sins which we could not bear, but which You bore in Your own body on the tree, ransoming us from eternal death. Grant us patience and resignation in suffering with You, that we may willingly take up our cross daily and follow You through suffering to glory. Amen.

Pastor Dave