God Centred Revival
Psalm 32
By Ross Tucker
Sometimes when we look at the Christian Church you can’t help but be discouraged. The Church is full of division, it has become worldly and seem to have lost its way in fulfulling the commission given to it by Jesus Christ. People seem to be abandoning the Church for other religious experiences; dabbling in Eastern religion, New Age, etc..
When we look at all evidence around us, we can’t help but wonder what is going to happen to the Church, is it finished?
Christians who have a good understanding of Scripture and Church history know that there have been many occassions when the Church was facing difficult times, but God has always revived His Church. This revival has begun through Christians faithfully committing themselves to prayer ernestly and regularly for it —confession and petition.
This paslm is a Psalm of David, where David is seen to be personally seeking the Lord’s blessing and the Lord’s forgiveness.
1.Revival – is knowing my Sins are Forgiven vv.1-5
David’s meditation begins by expressing the blessing in forgiven sins.
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven; whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man whose sins the Lord does not impute iniquity.count against him.
Transgression refers to rebellion against divine authority. Forgiving transgression literally means “bearing” or “carrying” it away. When we fell God in His mercy lift the load of our guilt from us we know that the weight has been taken away. Those of you who are familiar with John Bunyan’s allegory, “Pilgrim’s Progress” will remember how Christian was carrying a heavy burden on his back—sin
When Christian finally looked to the cross the burden came off his back. We are reminded in John 8:36 “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
The second part speaks of “sin” being covered. “Sin” refers to missing the mark; to falling short of the standard. Paul defines it in Rom. 3:23 As “falling short of God’s glory.” God covers our sin in the way you might cover over something offensive or unpleasant to you. Christ’s sacrifice now stands between the holiness of God and our moral failure.
Verse 2 speaks of God not counting sins against us (or iniquities imputed to us). The word used hear for sin has a meaning of “straying from the path.” We might say, “Straying from the straight and narrow.” What is being referred to here is the blessing one has when those sins, those departures from God’s way, revealed in holy Scripture are not credited to our account. What this means is that God is not counting our sins against us.
God’s forgiveness is real; it is deep but it is requires a real and deep honesty on our part—to face our perversions, our shame and deceit, and all of our hypocrisy under which we have lived, like the false fronts and prop of a Hollywood movie set. We have to be honest to open up and confess these sins before God; not try to hide them or try to justify them,or even deny them.
V2. “and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” When we are honest with God about our failings, our going astray, God already knows all about it, He’s just waiting for us to be honest before Him and confess them. To fear Him in that we acknowledge our sin knowing that he already knows and we are ashamed to have sin against Him. To acknowledge that He is powerful enough and merciful enough to forgive us.
In verse 3ff David reflect upon what he was like prior to confession. As he harbours his sin he feels the weight of it physically- “in his bones.”
The “wasting away” means wearing out- these bones are feeling the strain of deceit and falsehood. The “groaning” suggest emotional pain which he experiences day and night, because he admits that God’s hand is heavy upon him. There is no relief. The heaviness of his body and spirit becomes more intense because he sensed that God’s anger was upon him. His strength and vitality are sapped.
Criminals on the run for some considerable time are often relieved to be finally caught, because the strain of continually having to look over your their shoulder, watching every move you they make, not able to really trust anyone become so stressful that being caught is a relief. Similarly, when you do something you know is wrong it can trouble you greatly, even make you feel sick in the stomach until you finally put things right.
Holding on to sin and failing to repent can bring about depression, emotional pain, and other ailments. I wonder how many of our physical ailments and illnesses are caused through our sin; through the supression and repression of our sin.
David states in v5 “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” Keeping quite about sin is not the answer. That only caused physical, mental and spiritual anguish for him. But in confessing his sin he found forgiveness and restoration ; “And You forgave the guilt of my sin.”
2. Revival is being Instructed & Discipline by God vv8-9
V8. God promises to instruct and direct David in the path of righteousness. In order for God to teach us and guide us, we have to be teachable, we have to be open to the leading of God’s Spirit,we have to be submissive to God. Redemption is for obedience. We are saved to serve.
John 14:23 “If anyone loves Me, they will obey My teaching. .”
No only will the Lord teach us the way of Life, the way of righteousness, but He will also guide us in it. “I will counsel you and watch over you.” The Lord watches over us and will not turn His face from us; He will not forsake you nor leave you. His counsel may not always be welcome, because it may be that we require discipline in order to be be brought back onto the narrow path.
You should not resist the Lord’s discipline, but seek forgiveness and correction—do not be stubborn or hard-of-heart.
Verse 9 “Do not be like the horse or the mule . . .” The Lord will deal harshly with you if you resist and try to go you own way. Discipline is always given by the Lord in love for the good of those being disciplined. And God’s Spirit is at work in us, if we are really the Lord’s.
3. REVIVAL ALWAYS RESULTS IN PRAY vv6-7,10-11
Having seen the power of the Lord’s forgiveness, David says that every one should pray to the Lord; ie Because we see the mercy and forgiveness of God, the godly-who are in covenant fellowship with the Lord and live a life of obedience to the Lord, should pray. This prayer is a prayer of thanksgiving and repentance.
When we are told to pray “in a time when You may be found” we are given both a promise and a warning. The promise is that this is such a time
Now God’s heart is open to us in His Son. But the warning is that this time will pass. The apostle Paul reminds us similarly in 2 Cor 6:2 “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.”
The door of salvation is open today, no one knows what tomorrow will hold. For the day will come when God’s grace comes to end and the door will be shut, and those on the outside will remain on the outside forever. Such a prayer of thanksgiving and confession, pleading for forgiveness must keep you humble and lead to a personal assurance of salvation.
David continues to remind us that God is truly our hiding place, our refuge and deliverer. God is the Warrior-King who fight David’s battles to victory, who protects us like a fortress. The response is to praise Him with songs of worship and praise. In verse 11 we are told that the righteous shall rejoice and shout for joy. This is a worship which flows from a personal relationship withthe Lord; from a sense of humility and thankfulness becuse of the mercy show to you in forgiveness of sins.
Revival comes when we no longer tolerate sin in the Body of Christ; when we no longer harber sin in our own bodies. Revival comes when we acknowledge and confess our sins; and then and only then will blessing come to us.