Psalm 32:11
“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!“
Who can rejoice in the Lord? Who can shout for joy? The righteous and upright.
Psalm 32 ends with this scripture. When we read the whole psalm, we understand who is righteous and upright. In Psalm 32:3, David expresses the pain, burden, and agony of living with unconfessed sin. He felt weak and defeated by the burden of sin until he acknowledged and confessed his sin. That was what opened the door for a life delivered from the hold of sin.
David realized that he was away from God because of sin. God’s forgiveness brought freedom from shame and guilt and lifted David’s burdens. Hence, he proclaims God to be his hiding place, who protects him from all trouble and always surrounds him with songs of deliverance. David then encourages all the faithful to pray and assures them that God will hear them.
Confession and repentance open up a way for God to teach us His ways and counsel us ahead. However, the psalm also warns us not to do these religiously but relationally. Horses and mules are controlled by bits and bridles when they are not compliant. God doesn’t want us to come to Him out of compulsion but with a loving, relational attitude. Our confession and repentance should not be out of fear of what will happen if we don’t, but by love.
Therefore, let us be quick to repent and return to God. Let us embrace the never-ending gladness of a transformed, righteous, and upright life in Christ Jesus.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the joy that comes from knowing You. You have cleansed my heart, made me upright, and filled me with Your peace. Help me rejoice in You always, not only in good times but through every season of life. May my life reflect the gladness of being loved and forgiven by You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
