Psalm 32-33
Key Verse: 32:1

    Today’s first Psalm is all about the blessedness of sins forgiven. People waste away in sin and guilt. We can be blessed when we experience sins forgiven through God’s unfailing love. In today’s second Psalm we learn that we should sing joyfully to the LORD, because he is the Creator God who created the world by his power.

1. Blessed Is He Whose Transgressions Are Forgiven (Ps 32)
    King David declared in verse 32:1 the blessedness of having one's sins forgiven. Verses 32:1-2 say, "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit." He says one is blessed when his sins are forgiven. People all over the world are working hard to try to attain blessedness through human achievements, wealth, fame, power, or legalistic righteousness, but the Bible says blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven.
    Since the Garden of Eden man's relationship with God was broken after Adam and his descendants that followed broke God's word. As a result man lived hopelessly under a curse. Some people tried to escape the realities of this world by reading many fiction books, going on long vacations or watching soap operas. These are not necessarily bad, but are very limited. In the long term our realities remain. Throughout the world we see the symptomatic problem of many people and whole countries are trying to put off the Day of Reckoning simply by not facing responsibilities, but transferring them to somebody else or future generations. Actually in some sense our sin is too big to pay off. We cannot just forget about our sins. The Psalmist is proclaiming that we are blessed when God forgives our sins. It is not a human transaction between people, but a sin against God. People have tried to be blessed through legalism. The Law in the Bible is good, but the same Bible says that nobody will be declared righteous or blessed by keeping the Law. To be blessed we have to let go of sin and deceit. Zacchaeus lived a selfish life as a chief tax collector. He was blessed when he met Jesus and turned away from his old life based on deception.
    Verse 32:3-4 tells us that David suffered in his body and mind when he held sin. Read 32:3-4, "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer." When he lived a lie, he felt a heavy hand against him. He could pretend like everything was fine around people, but he felt the heavy burden of guilt and slavery to sin. He didn't want to do bad things, but his sinful nature was very much alive.
    After the death of Saul, David was king of Israel. David commited adultery (2Sam 11) and tried to cover it up by committing second degree murder by sending her husband to the front line of battle. Humanly speaking, David could do as he wanted, since he was not subject to anybody. He suffered under a heavy load of guilt. At first when he was rebuked by the prophet Nathan through a story, he tried to deny it. Verse 32:5 says, "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." Christian fellowship is made up of forgiven sinners. Everyone lived an old life as a sinner. 1 John 1:5-7 says, "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." We must confess that "I was a sinner and Jesus saved me." We must pledge to live by the truth of God instead of our sinful nature.
    We have a special relationship with God. Verse 32:9 says, "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." Man tells a horse what to do, like we program a robot or computer what to do. God didn't build people like animals or robots. God wants to have a relationship with people, even fallen descendants of Adam. God wants to redeem men, who wandered away like lost sheep. God's unfailing love can surround those who trust in him. (32:10)

2. Sing Joyfully To The LORD (Ps 33)
    In this Psalm it tells us to sing joyfully. Let's read verses 33:1-3. "Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy." Since we are saved by the grace of God by his mercy, we must sing joyfully. Praise God with a harp. David played the harp. Make music to the LORD on the ten-stringed instrument. There can be many instruments; they are just tools. The Bible says praise the Lord with it. We are made to praise God. Verse 3 says to sing to him a "new song." Some people say only sing the classics. The classics may be good, but the Bible says "sing to him a new song." This is because God is at work. Young people have their unique experience. God gave us a godly creative nature. We must relate to God newly on a regular basis based on his word. Verse 3 also tells us to "play skillfully." When we play skillfully, we honor God with our abilities. Nobody was born playing skillfully. There is no age limit. Some people play one instrument well. Matthew VonMoss plays drums, guitar, bass guitar and piano in praise music at UBF meetings. Playing a new way can be good if we use it to praise God.
    From verse 4 on we see the point of this music making and singing. Read verses 33:4-6. "For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth." The real point of all the praising and music making is to enjoy and instruct about the Creator God who loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. Many Christian music groups lost track, because people naturally like to reveal their own talents, skills and abilities. When we play or sing, instead of showcasing ourselves, we must serve others and lead people into the knowledge of God. We do not need to water down the Bible's message. Music brings God into a heightened state of glory as he deserves. God deserves the glory, because his word is right and true; and he is faithful. God loves righteousness and justice. God created the heavens by his word. When we celebrate these things in song and music, then it enhanced our worship.
    Our God is in control of nations. Verses 33:10-11 say, "The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." Powerful people seem to control many things. We can fear that a ruthless leader or system will take over the whole globe. We can fear that if there is a change in the balance of power in the world that our current way of life may change for the worse. We may say "I believe in God", but also believe that a secret group of elite godless wealthy people control almost all political affairs behind the scene. Some American Christians are concerned that military style riot police seen at the recent G20 conference are becoming a regular fixture in American life. Many people in the world are worried about inflation. The Bible says we don't need to be afraid, because God thwarts the purposes of the peoples. History is moving towards the fulfilling of God's will. Just as God confused the builders of the Tower of Babel, so God can confuse the plans of powerful people in the world who oppose his will.
    Read verse 33:12. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance." Those who are part of the nation of God or holy priesthood are blessed. It is a nation based on faith in God's promises. No matter what the situation the Bible says the nation whose God is the LORD is blessed. We easily find many faults with other believers, but believers must stick together as a nation and support each other.
    God watches all who live on the earth. Verses 33:16-17 say, "No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save." People naturally depend on visible things like military might or a strong horse for deliverance. The Bible says of the horse: "despite all its great strength it cannot save." It is human nature to depend on something visible and strong, but they all have limitations and cannot truly save us. Verse 33:22 says, "May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you." Amen!