You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Psalm 32:7, ESV

 

There are many comforting and uplifting psalms in the Old Testament that we go to in times of trouble, to read quietly, and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to us, and lead us as we seek to know how to handle our challenge, and inspire us in the way forward. Some psalms speak directly into our situation, while others, that we stumble onto, we realise, reflect an exact experience we’ve had.

 

Recently, this struck me; a psalm that I’ve known well for many years, contained a direct reference to an experience I’d had, and is where our verse today comes from. I’d emerged from a car accident in which my little car had been spun around several times and then turned over on its side, with me still strapped in it. Finally, as I got out, unscathed, and started to walk, I was surrounded with joyful “shouts of deliverance” and knew that God had indeed been “my hiding place” and had “preserve[d] me from trouble.”

 

I believe that those joyful shouts erupted from people who rejoiced in God, and celebrated His might in rescuing a person from the horrendous scene they’d witnessed; people, who, as they walked to work, knew the living out of this psalm, and walked off gratified for having witnessed God’s deliverance.

 

If we read Psalm 32 prayerfully and mindfully, it’s possible to see that there’s actually an insightful recipe for happiness in it: “Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. Happy is the one whom the LORD does not accuse of doing wrong and who is free from all deceit.” (Psalm 32:1-2, GNT)

 

Happiness is not something we’re born into, it’s something we cultivate in our response to life and personal experience, and is often the fruit of making good choices, regardless of circumstance.

 

The psalmist describes a time when he was “worn out from crying all day long” his strength “completely drained” when he felt that God was punishing him “day and night.” (Psalm 32:3-4, GNT) Regardless of what we believe, wrongdoing can never leave us feeling light-hearted, whether it’s our own sin or that belonging to others. How does the daily news make you feel? Whether it’s considerable or little, sin will affect us, steal our happiness – and that of others – and destroy our life if left, unabated.

 

The psalmist reveals his solution: “Then I confessed my sins to you; I did not conceal my wrongdoings … and you forgave all my sins.” (Psalm 32:5, GNT)

 

Acknowledging and confessing sin frees anyone’s spirit, not just the psalmist’s, and, whatever the circumstances, experiencing and accepting forgiveness will feel like the world is fresh and new.

 

In his ‘new state’ he realises that God’s “loyal people should pray to [him] in times of need …when trouble comes rushing in” (Psalm 32:6, GNT) and listen to his instruction without being stubborn “like a horse or a mule,” then “trust in the LORD …protected by his constant love …” and “be glad and rejoice because of what the LORD has done.” (Psalm 32:9-11, GNT)

 

Prayer: Father God, true happiness is found in You. Thank you that Your forgiveness sets me free and gives me every reason to rejoice. Amen