Instruction for 2021 and Future Believers; A Study on Psalm 32 (1)
It was the British Prime Minister Lloyd-George during World War I who once said, “When the chariot of humanity gets stuck nothing will lift it out except great preaching that goes straight to the mind and heart. There is nothing in this case that will save the world but what was once called, ‘the foolishness of preaching.’” I believe the Prime Minister was partially correct. Rather than preaching, there is only one thing that can cause humanity to reorient itself back onto the straight and narrow, which is nothing more than the Word of God. It is through the power of God’s own inspired work that we are able to be crafted from something worthless to something priceless. Only in Jesus can we go from being meaningless to meaningful, it is so simple that many call it foolishness even though Christ openly mocked those who would identify His work as such! “Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” 1 Corinthians 1:20. I believe it is paramount that as believers, we refocus upon our fundamentals of the faith and become what we were truly called to be, a flawless practitioner of the Word of God.
This is the calling of the Christian during 2021 and into the years to come. We can no longer sit on the side of history and allow man to play this game without knowing the truth of what is eternally at stake. Our savior Jesus Christ mandated this at the end of His earthly ministry and commissioned us to proclaim the gospel and disciple those who would be willing, “18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20.
With this in mind, I want to devote some time to a psalm from King David proclaiming and outlining the gospel message. Why might you ask? It is apparent that the world is growing darker and nations continue to pursue a Romans 1:18-32 outline. This is unfortunate, but foreseen and prophesied by God. We now must pray for our nations, but continue to turn our attention, focus, and energy to the task we were given by Christ in Matthew 28. Today we start a study over Psalm 32, this is the first of the “Maskil” Psalms. Maskil means “giving instruction.” A subtle hint to the treasure for the reader who has wisdom and discernment. A treasure to the believer in 2021 who is seeking the Lord behind every word found in each verse of the Bible.
Unfortunately, we know that the majority of born again believers currently do not have wisdom nor understand of what they are reading when they sit down. How can they? If your only devotional is through a daily Bible verse app or inspirational quotes from a pastor, how are you ever to grow in the Lord? In 2 Peter 2:18b, Peter describes those who are barely saved, who are scriptural illiterate tend to be the most vulnerable to deception, “they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error.” It is ok for every Christian at one point in their spiritual life to be a baby, a person who is in need of constant help, guidance, and instruction by other more mature Christians (I do not mean age but spiritual maturity) yet, it is not ok to stay at this state. Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 depicts this very thing, “1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual [people] but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able [to receive it,] and even now you are still not able.” We must take ownership of our own spiritual walk and seek the Lord as He would have us do. By now you might be wondering why are we talking about spiritual wisdom in the Bible when the topic is of Psalm 32? Or you might be wondering what does Psalms, a book in the Old Testament, have to do with salvation? These are all unique questions which need to be answered immediately. Psalm 32 provides the 2021 Christian with a wonderful snap shot of the need for us to request wisdom from our Heavenly Father and understand His salvation plan from the very beginning has been that man be saved through faith and not of his own works. Abraham, who lived in the Old Testament, was indeed as much a believer as anyone in the New Testament and after. He was saved through faith that one day His savior, Jesus Christ, would come and die for his sins. His faith is the same as mine and hopefully yours. We have faith in Jesus Christ’s’ actions previously done with the forethought to those who were yet not living. Psalm 32 helps identify the salvation within stages of the instantaneous moment that a person is being sealed by Jesus Christ. While we might not know the stages we have gone through, with wisdom we can learn what Christ is faithful to complete in us. This is why Psalm 32 must be studied under the guise of wisdom and what Maskil truly means.
As previously stated, I want you the reader to take your time and read ahead and study God’s Word for yourself. Take some time and read Psalm 32 and see the wonderful uniqueness within the stages of the psalm. I would encourage you to find the other Maskil Psalms and see what God has written to us.
“Blessed [is he whose] transgression [is] forgiven, [Whose] sin [is] covered. 2 Blessed [is] the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit [there is] no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah 6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him. 7 You [are] my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. 9 Do not be like the horse [or] like the mule, [Which] have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you. 10 Many sorrows [shall be] to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. 11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all [you] upright in heart!” Psalm 32.
Next week we will continue our study into this amazing psalm and see just how wisdom parallels the title and what this means for us today.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming.
JL