Scripture: Psalm 32:2-5
"Count yourself lucky – God holds nothing against you and you're holding nothing back from him.
When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans.
The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up.
Then I let it all out; I said, "I'll make a clean breast of my failures to God."
Suddenly the pressure was gone – my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared."
Observation:
I wonder what was happening in David's life when he wrote this Psalm? What sin and what kind of guilt were present that needed confessing? What did his life look like before and after coming clean before God?
Application:
Psalm 32 was very instrumental in turning my life towards God many years ago. I remember feeling very much like David describes in v. 3 & 4. I remember sitting on my bed and reading this Psalm and being amazed that these words written so long ago could describe what I was experiencing so many centuries later. I remember living in fear of God's judgement most of the time. I had this sense that God was waiting for me to open the door that he had been knocking on for a long time but I was too afraid of the risk of saying yes to Him because it might mean giving up too much. Once I actually took the risk and said yes to following God, I realized I had a warped view of how God looks at me. He wasn't waiting to pass judgement on me, He was waiting to release me from my sin and guilt, just like David describes. He was waiting to give me a life of transparency and freedom from fear of Him.
Prayer:
Thank you for the freedom that comes from being transparent before you, God. You've given me a "fresh start" and my "slate's wiped clean" (v.1). Continue to reveal corners of my heart where I hold back from You. I want to learn more about celebrating you with an honest heart like David talks about in v.11. Amen!
Joan Funk
Joan is married to Cal and is on the Lead Team at Seeds as the Equipping Director.