Psalm 32
Psalm 32 gives
us a great opportunity to understand the idea of forgiveness in the Bible. There are several main words in the Old
Testament that are often translated as forgiveness. The first word literally means “the removal
of defilement by means of an atoning sacrifice.” Another word simply means to “lift up” or
“take away.” This is the word that we
have present in this psalm. A third word
literally means “to forgive” or “to pardon.”
There is a
striking difference here between these words – although not that these words
are at all at odds with one another. The
first word focuses on the reason for the removal – a sacrifice. The second word focuses on what forgiveness
is about: the removal of guilt. The
third word focuses on the effect of forgiveness: pardon and restored
relationship.
I love the
fact that the Hebrew language has at least three solid words to describe the
forgiveness process. I do mourn a little
that our English language only has one word.
But then again, we also have words like atonement, sanctification,
repentance and the like. I guess perhaps
what I am trying to say as I start my reflection on this psalm is that we
should take a moment and remember what forgiveness is all about. We need to drink deeply in that it is a
multiple step process with far reaching effects. As David says, blessed is the one whose
transgression is forgiven: atoned, removed, and pardoned.
Where do
we go after forgiveness? We focus on the
Lord. We let the Lord teach us His
ways. We sing praise to God and ascribe
glory to His name. We yearn for the
understanding that comes from Him. We
pray to Him and take seriously our relationship with Him.
Psalm 33
Psalm 33
plays with an interesting trio of words: upright, faithful, steadfast. Each of these words describe the overarching
theme of the psalm: God’s love. Let’s
play with these words a little as we consider the message of the psalm.
God’s love
is shown through His Word. In this
sense, God’s love is upright. God’s love
embodies righteousness through His Word.
In fact, as David reminds us, remember that it is through God’s Word
that the world was made. Creation itself
was a righteous act. We were intended to
partake in God’s righteous Word by definition as a part of creation. Furthermore, through God’s upright Word he
brings the counsel of the nations to nothing.
He frustrates the self-mongerism of the world. The plans of the world fail and pass away
while the plans of the Lord are eternal.
If that’s not a natural transition into a conversation about salvation, Jesus
Christ, and eternal life I don’t know what is!
All of these things are rooted in the upright nature of God’s love.
God’s love
is faithful. Faithful is a word that
means true, believable, authentic, real, or trustworthy. It is the Lord who looks down upon the earth
and holds us in judgment. It is the Lord
that pronounces words of judgment and salvation. We can trust in the judgment of the Lord
because His judgments are faithful. They
are true and accurate. They are
believable. They are trustworthy.
God’s love
is also steadfast. Steadfast is a word
that means reliable, unwavering, committed, or even persistent. We can legitimately have hope in God because
His love is steadfast. We can wait upon
the Lord because He is steadfast and will not forget about us. We can trust His timing because His ways are
unwavering and He sees with eyes that have steadfastly overseen creation.
God’s love
is – to introduce a fourth word – good.
Our relationship with Him is also good because He is good. We can step forward in life knowing that His
love is steadfast, faithful, and upright.
I am reminded of a classic Christian rock song by a group named
Whitecross called “If He Goes Before Me.”
I’ll leave you with the words of the chorus today.
If He goes
before me, how could I ever lose?
If He goes
before me, before I ever begin I know I’ll win.
If He goes
before me…
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