February 15,2023
As you will see from the date below, I began this journal entry almost a month ago. It has taken me some time to sit down and finish it. The note you read below was written at that time, but the prayer requests have not changed.
January 16, 2023
Worship in Word and Witness:
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Of David. A maskil. Title: Probably a literary or musical
term 1Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. NIV (2011)
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Ps 32 A Maskil of David. 1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. ESV |
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Ps 32 A Psalm of David, Mas'-chil. 1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. KJV |
Ps 32 A psalm of David. 1 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is
forgiven, whose sin is put out of
sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has
cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in
complete honesty! Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, 1996, 2004 |
Another span
of time has passed between my last entry on Psalm 32. The holidays have passed,
and a new year has dawned. Until last week, our LifeGroup leader could not lead
because of the disease he is battling and the side effects of his treatment.
Praise God he was able to return last week. I was leading our group during his
absence. It was a joy to do so.
Nevertheless,
please continue praying for him to be healed of the disease he fights daily.
Pray for my faith walk as well. There are burdens I am bearing that weigh heavily
on me. If it were not for Christ, my yoke bearer, I would collapse.
My outlines for Psalm 32
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II. Conviction – vv. 3-4 III. Confession – v. 5 IV. Call – v. 6 V. Confidence – v. 7 V. Counsel – vv. 8-9 VI. Contrast – v. 10 VII. Celebrate! – v. 11
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Blessed
– vv. 1-2 Lament/Languish
– vv. 3-4 Exonerate
– v 5 Seek
– v. 6 Shelter/security
– v. 7 Educate
– v. 8-10 Delight
– v. 11 |
In my last
journal entry, I had only included the first outline. This second outline was
written earlier and forgotten about when I could not progress any further at
the time of creating it. So, when I returned to begin my study of Psalm 32, I made
the outline on the left to help guide me through my study of Psalm 32. Happily,
I “stumbled” upon the outline I wrote earlier on a piece of paper torn from a “To
Do List...” pad. I must have inadvertently placed it in a pile of papers and
junk mail I was going to go through and organize or put in “file 13 (i.e., the
trash can).
I. Covered/ Blessed – vv. 1-2
Verses 1 and 2 of Psalm 32 are packed with powerful words
that portray the positive position of the person whose sins have been propitiated
(say that ten times quickly
1. The sense
of the word
What does this word mean? Unfortunately, we sometimes use it almost flippantly or dutifully. I can illustrate this from an occasion we often experience when greeting others.
Greeting: “Hi, how are you doing
today?”
Response: “I’m blessed.”
I am not saying that it is wrong to respond this way or that it is always
said with insincerity. However, let us admit that it may be uttered with the
same passion as when one responds by saying, “I’m fine.” It can roll off the
tongue without considering the gravity of such a statement. But, on the other
hand, it can also be stated in a purely dutiful manner.
“I am a believer, and believers are ‘blessed,’ aren’t they?”
“This should
be the ‘Christian’ response, not ‘I’m fine.’”
When one responds this way, perhaps we should ask:
“Oh? How so?”
I know I am guilty of using the word in my prayers in a manner that may lack
understanding or direction.
“Lord, please bless...”
The question
becomes then: “How do I want them blessed?’
Perhaps if we understood more deeply what the word means and brings to
ourselves and others, we would be less likely to use it flippantly or dutifully
but joyfully.
So what does
the word mean?
I feel like I’ve “bitten off a little more than I can chew.”
But let me give it a shot.
If we consult any Hebrew Lexicon or dictionary, we will probably learn
that this Interjection means “blessed” or “happy.” That gets us somewhere, but
not very far. After all, we are trying to understand what “blessed” means in
the first place. If we understand it to mean “happy,” we may severely limit its
meaning because of the modern understanding of happiness. Even when a child of
God does not feel “happy,” they are still considered blessed in God’s sight.
Some have suggested using the word “bliss.”.
A masculine noun meaning a person's state of bliss.
(from The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament Copyright © 2003
by AMG Publishers. All rights reserved.)
This may be helpful if we use it as one dictionary defines it:
bliss (blĭs)n.
1. Extreme happiness; ecstasy.
2. The ecstasy of salvation; spiritual joy.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
However, I cannot see anyone
saying, “I am blissed.” And bliss can also mean “perfect happiness,” which can only be
attributed to God alone. And we still must deal with the fact that we often don’t
feel like we are in a state of “bliss.”
Yet I do believe there should be an element of joy that accompanies this state of blessedness. This can only occur when our happiness is not based on our circumstances but on our relationship with God. That will be important to remember when we look further
at the first two verses of Psalm 32.
2. The setting in which it thrives
The “happiness” we are talking about thrives in a state that is both
vertical and horizontal. Vertically, there is the element of trust in God.
Accompanying and flowing out of this is the horizontal response of faithful
living. As we will see from this psalm, there can be no joy in sin (see verses
3-4). It is important to note that the very first word in the book of Psalms is
“Blessed.” Psalm 1 tells us that the man or woman of God who abstains from
fellowship with and “followship” of the wicked is “blessed.” On the positive
side, the psalmist says that the “blessed” meditate daily on God’s word. So, we
can say the “blessed” thrives in fellowship with God and the godly. An
essential element of this is the study of (which includes reflection) and
submission to God’s word.
3. The
source from which it is derived
There are two verbs in Hebrew meaning "to bless." One is b¹rak and the other °¹šar.
(from Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Copyright © 1980 by The
Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. All rights reserved. Used by permission.)
The word used in Psalm 32:1-2 is °¹šar. What is the
difference between these words? The same resource I quoted defines the difference between
these two words.
Can any differences between them be tabulated? For one thing b¹rak is used by God when he
"blesses" somebody. But there is no instance where °¹šar is ever on God's lips. When one
"blesses" God the verb is b¹rak, never °¹šar.
(from Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Copyright © 1980 by The
Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. All rights reserved. Used by permission.)
So, the word b¹rak can be uttered from the lips of
God and humans. However, the word °¹šar can never be said by man towards God
nor by God towards man. The same resource gives one explanation as to why this is.
One suggestion to explain this sharp distinction, i.e. that °¹šar is reserved for man, is that °¹šar
is a word of envious desire, "to be envied with desire is the man who
trusts in the Lord." God is not man and therefore there are no grounds for
aspiring to his state even in a wishful way. Similarly God does not envy man,
never desires something man is or has, which he does not have, but would like
to have. Therefore God never pronounces man "blessed" (°ašrê)
(Janzen).
(from Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Copyright © 1980 by The
Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. All rights reserved. Used by permission.)
However, I may add that though we may never find God directly declaring one blessed, He does so indirectly and approvingly in the context where this interjection is found. And though the word °¹šar (blessed) can be used in a non-religious setting. When it comes to being used in a spiritual sense, I believe God’s b¹rak (blessing) precedes it and undergirds it.
In conclusion, the word “blessed” (°ašrê) consists first in a state in which one stands by the grace of God. It is a desirable and favored state that we do not deserve nor do anything to obtain. It is a gracious act of God. Thus, the source of our blessedness is God and not man or mammon. It is spiritual, not material. However, I think there is an affective or emotional element that the Psalmist wants to convey and encourage. That will become evident when we dig deeper into these two verses. David wants us to respond to God’s blessing with humble joy and happiness. God’s blessing upon which we are called “blessed” is an act of grace. It is an abiding blessing based on the steadfast love of God toward His children. Our response wavers as His imperfect children. In our growing but faltering faith, we often take our eyes off Him and instead focus on our external circumstances. Instead of meditating on His promises, we wallow in anxious thoughts and worry. And because of our busy and fast-paced life, our “blessed” state is often forgotten and unfelt due to our frantic and frenzied lives.
Worship
in Witness
I’m sure I have only scratched the
surface of defining “blessed.” More can and will be said next time about this
word, primarily as it is used in Psalm 32. Only in the context of the passage
can we feel the enormity of its meaning. Also, I hope I have clarified and not confused
anyone regarding the meaning of the word “blessed.”
Defining a word’s meaning may lead to greater understanding
academically but not experientially. Unless the
word “blessed” grips our soul and entire being, it will have little effect on
our lives. Yes, the source of our blessing is the objective work of God, not our
own. But we must receive it by God-wrought faith, or it will have no effect on
our life. And if it does not affect one's mind and our affections, how can
we say we are “blessed” subjectively?
I must confess that in this “jar of clay,” happiness and joy aren’t always felt. I don’t always “feel” blessed. And when I
become aware of this, let me confess it and believe what God says, not what I think
my emotions are telling me. My feelings are a "warning light” that tells me
something is wrong, not what is wrong. I must listen to God’s word and the Holy
Spirit, for only THEY can direct me to where the problem lies. Otherwise, I
will be trusting in my flesh and the lies the enemy whispers in my ear.
Worship
in Promise, Prayer, Poem, and Praise
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2F736x%2F0f%2F77%2Ff4%2F0f77f4fe3290840d1785d1499780320f--psalm--christian-verses.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=39c263689504a8fa5e7f666f481625b572a0f07273b917a72936ef5a25be38c0&ipo=images
Oh Lord, guide me through my days. And when my faith wanes
and my feelings wax, may I turn towards you in my storm lest the waves of doubt
overwhelm me. Let me not drown in my sorrows but delight in Your goodness. May
I not be drawn to earthly things as my source of blessing and say, “I am
blessed” by such *dross. Instead, let me find my
joy in You alone, and with rejoicing, say, “I am blessed!” Amen
*dross – rubbish, trash, worthless
Come Blessed Ones
O’ come blessed ones - come seek His face
And be ye filled with the glory of His grace
Though time and terror may seek
to displace
Let us continue to run the “set before us” race
And when our time on earth doth end its pace
We shall enter into our “prepared for us” place
As Long As You Are Glorified by Sovereign Grace Music
Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet
not welcome any pain
Shall
I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet
grumble in days of rain
Shall
I love You in times of plenty
Then
leave You in days of drought
Shall
I trust when I reap a harvest
But
when winter winds blow, then doubt
Oh,
let Your will be done in me
In
Your love, I will abide
Oh,
I long for nothing else as long
As
You are glorified
Are
You good only when I prosper
And
true only when I'm filled
Are
You King only when I'm carefree
And
God only when I'm well
You
are good when I'm poor and needy
You
are true when I'm parched and dry
You
still reign in the deepest valley
You're
still God in the darkest night
Oh, let Your will be done in me
In Your love, I will abide
Oh, I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified
So
quiet my restless heart
Quiet
my restless heart
Quiet
my restless heart in you
Oh,
let Your will be done in me
In
Your love, I will abide
Oh,
I long for nothing else as long
As
You are glorified
Written
by: Mark Altrogge
Album: Come, Weary Saints
Released:
2010
Lyrics:
Video: https://youtu.be/SZHfv2ivUrM