Devotional Messages

The Joy of the Believer

Psalm 32 offers a message that should be repeated heartily by all believers today: "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him" (vv1-2a).

David's writing in this Psalm continues with a recollection of past sin - a time when David was not close to the Lord and did not trust in Him as he should. In this time he suffered: "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long" (v.3).

But this ended when David confessed his sin to the Lord in repentance, immediately receiving forgiveness from the gracious God. From here David leaps into an exhorition of His power and glory: "let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him" (v.6).

David concludes with a look at the futility of life without God (vv.9-10), and an exclamation to "Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!" (v.11). Though David wrote this psalm centuries before Jesus came as a man, the Christian life can surely be seen in this experience.

Paul quotes the opening verses to this Psalm in Romans 4 and applies them to believers in Christ - believers' transgressions are indeed forgiven, covered and not counted against them. Just like David, believers will struggle with sin, and will often experience times where they do not confess their sins to God. In this time the believer will struggle and suffer.

However, just like David, all the believer must do is return to seeking God's forgiveness and God will happily oblige through Christ. When realising this wonderous truth, how could a believer not, like David, be amazed at the glory of God! And from this amazement, how could a believer not then feel similar to David when exclaiming: "let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found!... Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you ho are upright in heart!".

I often find myself "trudging along" in my Christian life, knowing the gospel, understanding what God has done for me in Christ; yet still merely "trudging along" joylessly. When glimpsing a shadow of the glory of God through truths around me and in the Bible, my apathy sickens me. God in Himself is a reason for joy and amazement in the believer - "The creator of all that there is will count me as rightous if I in humility ask Him!"

Praise God, who in heaven above guides us, sustains us, cares for us, and forgives us; and reflect on your own daily reaction to the glory of God, praying that God would help you to understand it better all the time and react with joy and love through His grace.