The Cover Up

OPENING PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, may your truth shape my life today. Strengthen me to live each day according to your will and direction.

READ: Psalm 32

Of David. A maskil.[a]

1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.[b]

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. 7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. 10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.

11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Footnotes

[a] Psalm 32:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term

[b] Psalm 32:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 7.

Psalm 32

REFLECT:

If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, there is every chance it might be snowing right now. Even if not, close your eyes and picture the way snow covers everything as it falls so silently and so beautifully.

I like a good pun… did you hear about the man who was fired from the calendar factory? All he did was take a day off! David was in punning mood when he penned this psalm: he uses the same word for ‘covered’ (v 1 – like snow covers the ground) and ‘cover up’ (v 5 – like politicians cover up a scandal).

Whatever his sin was – traditionally, but not necessarily, his adultery with Bathsheba – he tried to hide it at first (v 3), claiming ‘to be without sin’ (1 John 1:8). That didn’t go well. What do you think it means that God’s hand was ‘heavy’ on David (v 4)? Is that something you recognize?

Eventually he admitted what he had done; he stopped covering it up himself (v 5) and let God cover it for him (v 1). Compare verses 4 and 11. What a difference being honest and confessing his sin made to David! Are you brave enough to learn his lesson (v 8)?

APPLY:

The Bible tells us that God does not change. What he did for David, he can and will do for you. Spend some time confessing your sin, using words inspired by this psalm. Ask God to help you know the joy of verse 11.

CLOSING PRAYER:

Loving Father, I praise you for your forgiving grace. I ask for courage to take ownership of my sins, confess them, and embrace your forgiveness.

WORSHIP:

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