Worship
in Word:
II.
External: the convicting hand of God
A. Weighted
– 4a
“For
day and night your hand was heavy on me” (NIV’ 84)
In
verse 3, David divulges the internal turmoil he was experiencing from his
stubborn unwillingness to confess his sin to the Lord. In verse 4, we discover
the ultimate source of his distress.
Certainly,
we can ascribe the painful conviction David felt from a conscience (or heart -
the term the OT often uses) informed by God’s word and as one described as a
man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14, Acts 13:22). But is that the only or ultimate
source? Or is the One who gave humans their conscience the primary source? A
conscience that in the beginning was innocent but now is fatally impaired by the
sin nature that has completely infected everyone stemming from Adam’s sinful
choice in the Garden of Eden.
The
topic of conscience is a subject that is too great to get into here. Suffice it
to say that verses 3 – 4 point to God’s convicting and sanctifying work in the life
of one of His chosen vessels. However, while David is here referring to an
experience he went through, we cannot divorce it from the greater context that
speaks to all of God’s redeemed.
Secondarily,
in principle, we can apply it to the lost sinner who has come under the
conviction of the Holy Spirit and responds with “godly sorrow.” The Apostle
Paul speaks about such grief:
Godly sorrow brings
repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow
brings death. 2 Cor. 7:10
B. Withering
– 4b
“my strength was sapped as in the heat
of summer.”
The convicting hand of God pressing down on David had a withering effect on him. He describes it vividly, likening it to the strength-sapping sun beating down on a person exposed to its merciless and relentless heat and arid effects. However, unlike the searing heat of a Middle-East summer, which may lead to delirium and even death if one does not have adequate shelter, protection, or hydration, God’s hand is meant to save, deliver, and restore His people.
For us, His pressing hand is not one of punishment but one of purging.
Brief Notes on God’s Discipline
God’s discipline is:
1) Personal & Loving – “the Lord disciplines the one He loves” – Hebrews 12:6a NIV (see Proverbs 3:11-12)
2) Patient & Perfect – “For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them” – Heb 12:10 (HCSB)
a) Our earthly parent(s) disciplined us for a brief time [until we reached adulthood], but God is in it for the long haul [for our lifetime].
b) Our earthly parent(s) disciplined us according to what seemed best to them but may not have been best for us. In contrast, by implication, God’s discipline, however, is perfect and wise (and thus for our best -See below - Hebrews 12:10b)
3) Purposeful & Purifying – “He does it for our benefit, so that we can share in His holiness.” Hebrews 12:10b HCSB
Therefore:
V
“do not regard lightly the discipline
of the Lord” Heb 12:5a ESV
Remember:
V Present discipline is painful but yields the “peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11b ESV
Worship
in Witness:
Here
are some thoughts and takeaways I had from Psalm 32:3-4:
Ø Verse 3 reveals the internal struggle going on in David’s soul. Verse 4 explains the external cause – the conviction of God pressing down on an unrepentant heart of one of His children. David was wearying from God’s loving whooping.
Ø The specific sin is not identified. Many speculate that it is referring to the incident of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, her husband. I am glad the particular sin has not been revealed. Knowing the sinful human penchant for comparison, divulging the specifics may lead some to limit the application to the specific sin listed. When comparing their sin to that of David’s, others might respond with something to this effect: “Well, at least my sin isn’t as bad as David’s.” Thus, they are mitigating or even quashing the quilt they feel over their sin.
Ø Commentators differ on whether David is describing actual physical responses in his body to God’s crushing disciplining hand or whether these are metaphorical descriptions of the pain he was experiencing within. To me, it does not matter. Either or both can be true. It is not how it is manifested explicitly in one’s life but how one will respond when one experiences God’s discipline. Will it lead to more silence (v. 3) or confession and supplication (v.5)?
Ø Unconfessed sin will sap our spiritual and perhaps physical strength when we remain silent and unrepentant. Strength returns, and relief comes through confession and repentance. And the joy experienced in verses 1-2 will be ours again.
Ps 32:1-2
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
Worship in Promise, Prayer, Poem, and
Praise
For My Good
Lord,
Sin surrounded me
I
surrendered to its seducing charms
But
fleeting pleasure
Gave
way to persistent guilt
The
Damning desire
Led
to deepening depression
As I
refused to confess
And
my guilt I repress
Your
hand was no longer a refuge
But
a crushing confine
Selah
Yet this
was for my good
To
squeeze the pus of sin
From
the festering sore within
To
restore the joy of my salvation
Your
hand so distressing
Became
a source of blessing
And
from the depths of my soul
Erupted
my confession
Bringing
healing and relief
Strength
and renewed belief
Selah… Amen
WAIT
Wait... when God stays not His hand.
Though
you cannot see or understand
The
reason for this trial or comprehend
His
goodness in discipline He doth wend
Towards
you, His loved and chosen child
Whom
He adopted and reconciled.
‘Tis
for your good and for His glory
In
God’s marvelous unfolding story.
And
when we come to the end of life’s run,
Crossing
the finish line, a new life has begun.
So
don’t walk away when you don’t know why.
Your
Father knows the best discipline to apply.
Then At Last (Psalm 32) by Wendell
Kimbrough.
Blest is the soul that’s free from deceit—
No need to hide what he says from what he means.
Blest is the heart forgiven by love,
Whose every fault our good Lord covers up.
Long I disguised and buried my shame;
Ran through the night and I groaned through the day.
Shelter I sought where I thought I was safe,
But oh silent soul, how you wasted away!
Then at last I told all my sins,
And with shouts of joy, lovin’ arms drew me in
To my one true safe place:
In the love of God and the family of grace!
So listen up, if you truly want to live:
Do not hide alone in the dark like this one fool did.
Be not like the mule as he fights against the reins.
Come let your broken heart be bound by grace!
Words and Music: © 2016 Wendell Kimbrough. CCLI Song
#7064730
from Psalms We Sing Together, released
September 23, 2016
all rights reserved
Lyrics source: https://wendellk.bandcamp.com/track/then-at-last-psalm-32
Video source: https://youtu.be/OdEzHA6I3Zo?si=7wxsnCxWjYMCTwvo
