The Godly Should Pray

“Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to You at a time when You may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble;  You surround me with shouts of deliverance.” –Psalm 32:6-7 (ESV) [Read Psalm 32]

The theme of Psalm 32 is that only the forgiven are truly happy.  It can be classified as a “penitential” psalm, and calls people first to seek God’s forgiveness and then to be glad, rejoice and worship the Lord.  The focal passage has been chosen as verses to pray during the forty days of concerted prayer.

Let’s learn some important truths from this psalm.  “Blessed” is often used in the Bible to mean happy.  The worship leader might well have asked a question such as “Who can be truly happy?” Although that question is not in the Psalm, it is implied.  And then the psalmist proceeds to tell us how happiness can occur.  It comes to the one :whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (v. 1).  We know that only God can forgive transgressions.  Verse one tells us that God also “covers” our sins.  When God covers sins, He graciously blots them out.  In verse 5, however, we have cover used in a manner of the sinner trying to cover or hide his own sin.  But the only way for sin to be forgiven is for us to acknowledge it—not to hide it, for God knows about it anyway.  When the sinner confesses and acknowledges sin, and is sorry for it, then he is in position to receive God’s forgiveness and his covering it or blotting it out. 

There is such relief from confession and forgiveness of sin that the person ‘who is godly’ can then pray, freely and believing.  Even great calamities like “the rush of great waters”(v. 6) will not harm him for he is safely hidden in the protection of the Lord.  When repentance and forgiveness occur, then the teachable moment comes.  We are ready to receive instruction and counsel in the way we should go.  Then the psalmist is ready for the summary statement:  “Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord” (v. 10).  One of the major aims of America’s current “Unite in Prayer” effort is to make us aware both individually and as a nation of our transgressions, our breaking of the just and equitable commandments of the Lord and the laws of our land.  We covenant with other Christians to pray for our forgiveness.  We pray earnestly that our leaders will recognize the Lordship of Christ and turn to God for guidance.  When the conditions are met, then we can “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy all you upright in heart!” (v. 11).  Then we have reason to rejoice!

Prayer.  Lord, it is Your nature to want to bless us.  But we must be in position to receive Your blessing.  Hear our prayers of confession.  We have neglected worship.  We have been afraid to claim Your name.  We have departed far from the pathways of righteousness.  We have known Your teachings and failed to live them out in daily practice. Forgive us individually; forgive our nation.  Give us strong leaders who will not be afraid to stand up for righteousness.  You can be found, Lord, for we feel Your presence.  Let us ‘be glad in the Lord,…rejoice…shout for joy!”  Amen.