Flood or The Blood

Psalm 32:1-7

Psalm 32:6, ‘Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment’. (Psa. 32:6 NLT)

Introduction: Let’s look at a ‘communion text’ as we are contemplating the beauty of celebrating around the Lords Table.

NKJ  Psalm 32:1 <A Psalm of David. A Contemplation1.>

The title of this Psalm is significant, l­-Daawid maskiyl,

• A Psalm of David, giving instruction, an instructive Psalm;
  
  
• so called by way of eminence, because it is calculated to give the highest instruction relative to the guilt of sin, and the blessedness of pardon and holiness, or justification and sanctification.
  
  
• It is supposed to have been composed after David’s transgression with Bath-sheba, and subsequently to his obtaining pardon.
  
  
• The Syriac (The classic Syriac language is a variation of the old Aramic language)
  •  

The vast majority of the Bible is written in Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament), with only a small percentage in Aramaic, primarily found in parts of the books of Daniel and Ezra; roughly speaking, around 95% of the Bible is either Hebrew or Greek, with the remaining 5% being Aramaic.

Breakdown:

Hebrew: Approximately 75% (Old Testament)

Greek: Approximately 20% (New Testament)

Aramaic: Less than 5% (scattered verses in Daniel, Ezra, and a few other places)

Key points:

The New Testament is almost entirely written in Greek.

• While Jesus likely spoke Aramaic, the majority of the Bible was not written in that language.
  
  
• The Syriac text entitles it, “A Psalm of David concerning the sin of Adam, who dared and transgressed; and a prophecy concerning Christ, because through him we are to be delivered from hell.”

While the psalm is linked to David’s experience, its message of confession and forgiveness is applicable to all people, including Adam, who represents the first human sin that brought the consequences of sin into the world.

NLT Psalm 32:1-7 ‘Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt,1 whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude 5

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude 6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. 7 For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory’. Interlude

NKJ Psalm 32:1 ‘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

NKJ Psalm 32:1 <A Psalm of David. A Contemplation1.>

Psalms 32:1

1. Psalm 32 is a Psalm for Contemplation.

It is a Psalm for Contemplation – It was written with the express purpose of us thinking about, just exactly what it is that God has/is able to do for fallen humanity.

Luke 22:19, Jesus said, ‘As often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me.’ Remembrance = recollection

Application: Communion is a time to put aside everything else for at least the moment. Gives us the opportunity to focus, appreciate, and prioritize the greatest and most important things in life.

Transition:

II. Psalm 32 is a Cause for Gratitude / Celebration

III. It was written with a sense of celebrating, rejoicing and giving thanks for what has been done.

• The man whose:

• transgression is forgiven;
  • whose sin is hidden,
  • God having cast it as a millstone into the depths of the sea;
  • whose iniquity and perversion is not reckoned to his account;
  • and whose guile the deceitful and desperately wicked heart, is annihilated,
  • being emptied of sin and filled with righteousness, is necessarily a happy man.

The old Psalter translates these two verses thus:

‘In vain does any man look for or expect happiness while the power of sin remains, its guilt unpardoned, and its impurity not purged away.”

To the person who possesses such blessings, we may say as the psalmist said, ‘ashreey’, O the blessedness of that man, whose transgression is forgiven! Etc.

Paul quotes this same passage in Rom 4:6-7, to illustrate the doctrine of justification by faith;

 ‘David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: 7 “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight’.

Psalm 103:12, ‘As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us’. (NKJ)

Micah 7:19  ‘He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our1 sins Into the depths of the sea’. (NKJ)

In this and the following verse four evils are mentioned:

Transition:

1. IV. It is a Psalm Realization (of Awareness, recognition and understanding)

The reality is that all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23)

1. Transgression, pesha’ = The first signifies the passing over a boundary, doing what is prohibited.
   
   
2. Sin, ch’­Taa’aah = The second signifies the missing of a mark, not doing what was commanded, but is often taken to express sinfulness, or sin in the future, producing transgression in the life.
   
   
3. Iniquity, ‘aawon = The third signifies what is turned out of its proper course or situation; anything morally distorted or perverted. Iniquity, what is contrary to equity or justice.
   
   
4. Guile, r’­miyaah = The third signifies what is turned out of its proper course or situation; anything morally distorted or perverted. Iniquity, what is contrary to equity or justice.

Transition:

IV. Message of Reconciliation – Psalm 32:5-6

Psalm 32:5 ‘Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone’. Interlude (NLT)

32:6, ‘Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment’. (NLT)

Transition:

5 . A Psalm of Assurance – 32:7

‘You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance’. Selah (NKJ)

Assurance – guarantee, pledge, promise, security, and support.

Conclusion: Psalm 32:6, describes sin as a flood of great waters of God’s judgement under which all humanity is found without Christ.