The Joy of Forgiveness
Study note
David declares that the person whose sins are forgiven is truly blessed. When he kept silent about his sin, his body wasted away. But when he confessed, God forgave him completely.
1 What a happy person! Their wrongs have been lifted away. Their sin has been fully covered over. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 What a happy person — someone the Lord does not hold guilty, someone whose heart holds no deception. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
3 When I tried to hide my sin and say nothing about it, my whole body felt like it was falling apart. I spent every waking moment groaning. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
4 Day and night your heavy hand was pressing down on me. My energy drained away like moisture disappearing in the summer heat. Selah. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and my iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD; and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
God Is Our Hiding Place
Study note
David urges the godly to pray while God may be found. God is a hiding place who protects from trouble and surrounds us with songs of rescue.
6 Therefore every faithful person should pray to you while they still can. Even when the floodwaters rise, those waters will never reach them. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
7 You are my secret hiding place. You keep trouble from touching me. You wrap me up in songs of rescue. Selah. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
God's Guidance
Study note
God promises to teach and guide us. He warns us not to be like a stubborn horse that needs a bit and bridle. The wicked have many sorrows, but those who trust in God are surrounded by his love.
8 "I will teach you and point you down the road you should travel. I will watch over you and give you direction." I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
9 Don't be stubborn like a horse or mule that can't understand. They have to be held back with a bit and bridle, or they won't come near you. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
10 Wicked people face one sorrow after another. But anyone who trusts in the Lord is wrapped all around by faithful love. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.
11 Let the Lord make you glad — truly, truly glad — if you are living right. Let everyone whose heart is honest burst out shouting with joy! Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.