Psalm 32

Confession plays a pivotal role in the Christian’s life. It is that grand event that brings sin out of the darkness of deceit and into the light of life. The expressed, acknowledged sin has lost all its power to enslave. It has been revealed and judged as sin and can no longer hinder fellowship. Dietrich Bonhoeffer suggests that the final breakthrough to Christian fellowship occurs on the level of sin. That is, we have “fellowship” with one another because we share the reality of sin in our lives. No one is immune to sin. The fact is that we are sinners. But confession allows us to experience the grace of God, enjoy fellowship with each other as recipients of that grace, and undergo the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. In short, confession begins the process of repentance and allows us to be transformed into the image of Christ.

Psalm 32 is listed among the so called Penitential Psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143). These psalms are confessions to God. Specifically, Ps 32 teaches the role of confession as that which leads to a repentant lifestyle. It is the first step in the healing process. The psalm begins with a statement of blessedness (vv. 1-2). “Blessed” may be loosely defined as “favorable in God’s eyes.” Thus, those whose sins are forgiven are favored by God. God smiles upon those who humbly admit their sin and turn to him for forgiveness and healing. David then describes the role of guilt in the confession-repentance process (vv. 3-4). He describes how keeping sin private and in the darkness led to an aching within him. This is not a physical aching but rather that which stems from a hurting soul. It is a deep sense of discontent. Guilt, if not confessed, eats away the inner-life. But upon confession guilt disappears and forgiveness reigns (v. 5). Guilt is not necessarily a bad thing. Granted, if it causes paralysis and stagnation in one’s spiritual life then guilt is one of Satan’s most effective tools. But if it causes us to be pro-active, leading to repentance and a changed lifestyle, guilt is one of God’s motivational tools. In short, guilt should not cause paralysis but rather should cause us to be pro-active, leading to confession and repentance.

David then exhorts us all to take advantage of confession as we pray to God (v. 6). He emphasizes the freewill involved in confession (v. 9). God does not force us to turn to him as one forces an animal with a bit and bridle. Instead, he encourages us to turn to him out of our own freewill and common sense. Confession is our response to God’s initiative of grace. God invites us to turn to him and we humbly accept his grace. The end result of confession is joyful fellowship (v. 11). Once again, through confession, sin looses all its power to erode our spirits.

We are encouraged to take advantage of confession. It is a gift of God that he allows us to pray to him (or to confess to our siblings in Christ). Confession is a good thing! It is the first step in the healing process. Proverbs 28:13 sums up the message of Ps 32: “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

Psalm 46

In times of war Ps 46 reminds the people of God to place their trust in him alone. It is a psalm of confidence. Psalm 46 consists of two main stanzas declaring confidence in God: 1) vv. 1-7 describe the presence of God and 2) vv. 8-10 declare the power of God. The prevailing thought in the psalm is that God’s presence among his people is enough to secure victory for them (vv. 5, 7, 11). Since God dwells among his people they declare “Immanuel” – “God with us” (vv. 7, 11). Psalm 46 expresses the presence and power of God within his chosen people.

Many times we are tempted to place our trust in our own military prowess and might. It is easy for powerful nations to become arrogant, placing their confidence in their own ability to wage and win wars. But it is not so with the people of God. God is their refuge and strength (v. 1). Israel had a grand army at one time in her history. Her borders expanded more under kings David and Solomon than under any other Israelite king. Even so, the writer of Ps 46 reminds the nation in whom to place their trust (v. 1). Their faith is in God Almighty alone. For the people of God military might always takes a back seat to the sovereignty of God.

The world is a very unstable place (vv. 2-3). There is nothing in this world that is unshakable except the presence of God among his people. It is only in God’s presence that the church expresses her confidence in times of war. God acts on behalf of his people in times of war. He destroys the weapons of the enemy and brings an end to war (vv. 8-9).

The most comforting part of this psalm is when God speaks and encourages his people to be confident in him: “Be still and know that I am God” (v. 10). This is not casually waiting around with quiet contemplation. This is primarily not a call to quietly meditate (though there is nothing wrong with meditation). It is a statement of confidence that may be paraphrased, “Watch this!” The point is, wait, watch, and witness what God has in store for those who trust him. God is the God who delivers his people in times of trouble, even times of war. So, it is important for the church to declare their trust in God since he has placed his presence within her (1 Cor 3:16). Through the work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit the church should express even more confidence than ancient Israel. Indeed, through the work of Jesus and the indwelling Holy Spirit, God’s people shout the same words as in Ps 46: “Immanuel” – “God is with us!”

Psalm 62

Do you need some stability in your life? Do you often feel like you are swaying back and forth because of all the different forces in life? If you answered, “yes,” then you have something in common with David as he wrote Ps 62. Psalm 62 is a psalm of confidence. David expresses his need to turn to God for stability in his life. God alone is truly stable. Augustine, in the 3rd century, spoke of the restlessness of the human soul until it finds rest in God: "You stir man to take pleasure in praising you, because you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you" (Confessions, 1.1).

David begins the psalm with a declaration of trust (v. 1). He gains a sense of inner stillness that comes with yielding all fears, anxieties, and insecurities to God in an act of confidence. This confidence in God alone allows David to use words such as, “rock,” “fortress,” and “refuge,” to describe God as well as the stability gained by trusting in him. Apart from God David sees himself as a “leaning wall” and a “tottering fence” (v. 3). The original context of the psalm is unknown but the words suggest David is assaulted by wicked people who he encounters day after day (vv. 4, 9). But people are not the sole source of his instability. Perhaps his troubles are also the result of placing too much trust in his wealth (v. 10). The exact cause of David’s restlessness is a mystery. Nonetheless, his secure foundation is God alone (vv. 5-7). David’s personal experience of having God as his refuge moves him to encourage his faith community to do the same (v. 8). He uses his personal faith to stimulate faith in others. Individual faith and communal faith go hand in hand.

David ends Ps 62 by teaching that God’s power and love go hand in hand (vv. 11-12). The combination of God’s power with his love is truly wonderful. As Stewart Perowne wrote, “This is the only true representation of God. Power without love is brutality, and love without power is weakness. Power is the strong foundation of love, and love is the beauty and the crown of power.”

The world tempts us to make it the source of stability in our lives. From people to money, the world asks us to place our confidence where it does not belong. The world and all that it offers is unstable. It is shaky ground at best. Psalm 62 calls us to make God the bedrock of our lives. He is our rock, fortress, and refuge. Only when we seek the stability God brings will we experience his calm, his peace. This stillness is like the peace of God which passes all understanding that will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7).