A guy just got 2210 in his SAT score, a vast improvement over his last. He or his parents should be happy, right? Not really, because five or six of his friends got 2400, the perfect score. Certainly getting the full scores in SAT can be the envy of everyone.
Hold it; there is something more envious than this. The psalmist describes how to be the envied person in this psalm.
Commentary:
Psalm 32:1. There are two Hebrew words that mean “to bless.” One is the name of our president barak, and the other is asar. Barak refers to the blessings to or from God, while asar is never associated with God. The word asar can then mean to be envied with desire. It is the word used in both this verse and the next verse. Therefore, the psalmist describes a specific state where a man is most envied by others.
This state is being in righteousness. It is not a righteousness achieved by a sinless life, which is not possible. It is a life that has sin, but the sin has been forgiven or atoned.
Psalm 32:2. What is having no deceit in the spirit? One may think that the person does not lie. But the answer is what follows in verses 3-5.
Psalm 32:3-4. The psalmist describes his situation in the past. He knew that he had done something wrong, but he did not acknowledge his sin. God was using discipline to cause him pain.
Psalm 32:5. Having no deceit is not having a sinless life. It is about confessing the sin when we know we have committed the transgression. When we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all righteousness (1 John 1:9).
Psalm 32:6. The opportunity of God’s forgiveness would not be open forever. Life has twists and turns; it can bring us farther from God. Life also has an end; the end would be the finale for everything. If we are not in God when we are alive, we will eternally be separated from God after death.
Psalm 32:7. God does three things for us when we confess our sins and ask God for forgiveness. Firstly, God is our hiding place of trouble. Secondly, God preserves us in preventing us from going wrong. Finally, God gives us comfort and peace amid the chaos.
Psalm 32:8-9. Here God is speaking and urging us to follow His way. He entreats people not to be like mule or any stubborn animals. They may appear to be powerful, but are still under the control of others. Instead, we should use our mind to make the wise decision of following God.
Meditation:
Deciding what to go after is perhaps the most important decision in life. If we want to chase after what this world has to offer and forget the spiritual things, we will be most pitiful persons of the world. We may have our moments in life, but there is no everlasting glory from what is in this world.
The psalmist points out that the envied person is the one who has the right standing with God. It is not achieved through living a sinless life, because it is not possible. Rather, it is about recognizing our sins, confessing to God, and asking the Lord for forgiveness. Being forgiven is the important stuff in life.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you that you have mercy and would forgive when we confess our sins. We pray that we will affix our gaze upon you all our life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.