Sermon Central
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It's Time To Put On Your Praise
Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jul 11, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: Praise is a powerful means of grace that God has given the church that can lift us from our problems into His Presence.
It Time to Put on Your Praise!
Introduction:
TEXT:
Psalm 32:1-2, 11
{A Psalm of David, Maschil.}
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile...
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
1 Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
INTRODUCTION:
The superscription of Psalm 32 reads, "A Psalm of David, Maschil."
Maschil is a term found as a title of thirteen Psalms, and imports one that instructs or makes to understand. Some interpreters think it means an instrument of music; but it more probably signifies an instructive song. (ATS Bible Dictionary)
The background of Psalm 32 has traditionally been believed to reflect on David's feelings after repented when he was confronted by the prophet Nathan for his sin of violating Bathsheba and murdering her husband Uriah.
In Psalm 32 David reflects on his experience of a guilty conscience and how he was haunted by his sin while it was hidden. It found its way into his nightmares. He was stressed and anxious. en you read Psalm 32 you find the word selah repeated as David stops after each section giving the reader an opportunity to stop and soak the message in. It is instructive of the reality of sin. Of the gravity of sin. Sin is destructive. The wages of sin is death.
But, Psalm 32 t is also instructive of the power of acknowledging and forsaking our sins. David received an understanding of the doctrine of God's generous gift of mercy, forgiveness, and restoration to the contrite heart.
When confronted with his sin David repented. His prayer of contrition can be read in Psalm 51. He admitted his guilt. He brought it into the light. When David confessed his sin, the prophet Nathan said:
2 Samuel 12:13 NIV
"The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die."
Speaking Points:
1. Your Reason to Praise
In Romans 4:6-8, Paul quotes David's words from Psalm 32:1-2:
...David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” (NKJV)
David was a blessed man. He was a guilty man. But, he learned the power of confession. He learned his reason to praise!
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
He remembers where he came from, and can imagine where he could be if not for the grace of God. And so he wraps up Psalm 32 like this:
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Then the person who compiled the Psalter places Psalm 33:1 immediately afterwards:
Rejoice in LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright (33:1).
David's response to God's grace was joyous praise. Some people think they don't need praise. They often walk in frustration and condemnation.
That we should show forth the praises of Him that called us out of darkness and into His marvelous Light!
He says that the righteous should rejoice!
Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!
David was not talking about the righteousness that looks like the Pharisee in Jesus' story who went up to the temple:
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
He was talking about the kind of righteousness that the Publican received from God.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:11).
2. Your Right to Praise
David realized that he stood accounted righteous because of the generosity of God. He called out upon God and God heard and answered and forgave! God decided not to impute David's sin to his account! He calls this "blessed!"
He calls this righteousness something to shout about!
This morning if you do not have anything else to sing for joy about, you can rejoice today that when God looks at you, He looks at you through the cross of Jesus Christ and sees you as justified. Just-as-if-I'd never sinned!
