Rising Above: Repent and Psalm 32

Repent and Psalm 32:   Rising Above

Today’s post is about Jesus’ first word to us, repentance and how it played out in Davids life in Psalm 32, and how it can drastically effect our lives.

Can we rise above our worst mistakes, the regrets and sin that hold us down, the times we have given in to temptation, and done all we know we should not have. How can we rise above things we have done, be renewed, break free of guilt and strongholds, and find peace in our hearts and mind? We can find the answer in Jesus’ first word as He began to preach, He said, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Of all the words Jesus could have used to begin His preaching He tells us to repent.

So, today we are going to talk about three things; what repentance is, God’s kingdom and how repentance can bring us God’s blessings as it did for David in Psalm 32.

As we repent, we come before God and talk with Him about the ways in which we put our will ahead of His in our lives. We talk with God about the times we said to ourselves, I know this is wrong, but I really want to do this, who will it hurt, who will know? Or maybe the times we truly mis stepped and didn’t want to, didn’t mean to, the times we felt we had no control, times we were weak, times that now we totally regret. We talk with God about the ways in which we trespass against Him, and against others. We talk with God about the things we have embraced in our lives and made more important than Him. We see ourselves as we truly are, no hiding, no pretense, simply as His children in need of His forgiveness, mercy, grace, and guidance. You may remember the story of the prodigal son, in Luke 15, who left His father’s home, disregarded his will and after losing everything returned to his father. The first thing the father did after running out to meet his son was hear his confession, his repentance. The son said to his father forgive me I have sinned against heaven and you. It was then the father brought him back into the family and celebrated. With the sons’ return he once again had all he needed.

Jesus said, repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. God’s kingdom is here, it is His rule over all, it is His being here in this world, it is a place where there is no separation between us and God, it is a place of forgiveness, and unending fellowship with our God and Father, our Father who provides for us all we need and then more.

Let’s go now to Psalm 32 and read how the power of repentance played out in David’s life after he did the unthinkable, and desperately needed a way out, a way back, a way to rise above the circumstance he created. Here now is the word of our Lord in psalm 32:

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore, let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! (NIV)

As we read in Psalm 32 David begins by describing to us what being blessed (happy) truly is. In the Greek, the word for blessed is makarious and it means fortunate, happy, a state of wellbeing that is not affected by circumstance. David tells us this comes to us as our transgressions are forgiven, our sins are covered and not counted against us, and in us there is no deceit. And yet David, who knows this, goes on to tell us of his total and utter despair. David wrote this psalm after he saw, wanted, and took Bathsheba to sleep with him knowing she was a married woman. David then set in motion a plan to have her husband, Uriah killed in battle. David was without excuse, David was a man living in deceit, hiding his sin. But as far as the world knew, David had done no wrong. David was still on the throne and in control. But all the while within himself he was wasting away. David did not go to God but hid from Him. While we see that David still ruled, God overruled. As we see in 2 Samuel 12 God in His mercy did not leave David in this place but sent Nathan to him to convict David to bring David’s sin front and center before him, to bring to David his need to repent.

As we come to verse 5 David’s life turns around and he is no longer living under the burden of deceit and sin. What has changed is that he acknowledges his sin and does not try to cover up his iniquity, David repented, and God forgave him. And here we can return to the opening of the psalm, where it says, Blessed and happy because our transgressions are forgiven, our sins are covered and in us there is no deceit.

Not only were Davids sins forgiven but God then speaks to David and says, “I will instruct, teach and counsel you in the way to go with my loving eye on you.” So many times, we can ask ourselves where do I go from here, I’ve confessed to God, asked for His forgiveness, now what do I do, how do I pick up the pieces of the mess I’ve made? And God’s answer to us is as to David, He will guide us. As we trust in God verse ten tells us His unfailing love surrounds us.

It is in our repentance that we find our way back to our Father, to our God, to our Lord and Savior. It is in our repentance that we not only find our way back home to our welcoming Father but we simply find our way in this world, we find true happiness and we are blessed. As we seek to walk with our Father in step with His will for our lives, to obey and do as His word tells us, we can trust that His strength, direction, and comfort will flow inside us. We will find the peace in our hearts and minds we long for. We will find ourselves with our Fathers forgiveness, strength, and unfailing love, rising above our worst mistakes, our sins and regrets. We will find ourselves prisoners to them no more.

As we close lets go to the Lord in prayer and thanks.

Father, we thank you for your word to us, your forgiveness, your knowing how very much we need you, and your unfailing love for us. Thank you for the times you overrule and convict us, leading us to repent and leading us home to your kingdom at hand. In Jesus name, Amen.