Well, if you have your Bible with you this evening, please turn with me once again to Psalm 32. Psalm 32. We will be concluding this Psalm this evening as we consider verses six through 11. Six through 11. Join me in prayer as we ask the Lord's blessing on the preaching of his word. Our gracious God and Heavenly Father, as your word is about to be read and preached, we do pray, O Lord, that we would see Christ here in this passage, that you would show us his wonders and his beauty, his work. We pray, O God, that we would receive much comfort from your scriptures and that our hope in the Lord Jesus and all of your promises would continue to be strengthened and strong that we would walk faithfully before you with joy. We pray all of these things in Christ's name, amen. Well, Psalm 32, beginning in verse six, hear now the holy, inspired, the inerrant, infallible word of God written for you and for me today. For this cause, everyone who is godly shall pray to you in a time when you may be found. Surely, in a flood of great waters, they shall not come near him. You are my hiding place. You shall preserve me from trouble. You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with my eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding. which must be harnessed with bitten bridle, else they will not come near to you. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart. Amen. Thus far, the reading of God's holy word. Well, beloved in the Lord, by God's grace, this psalm impresses the glorious truth of the blessedness of your redemption in Jesus Christ. For while you were dead in trespasses and sins, the debt of your sin remained your responsibility to pay. The filth of your sin was odious, and the guilt of your sin remained on your shoulders as one who was justly under condemnation. Remember Jesus' words in John 3.18, he who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And so as your condemnation wasn't anything that you could get out of or free yourself from, on your own, divine mercy and forgiveness extended to you in the debt and filth and guilt of your sin having been placed on and paid for by your Savior is an unbelievable and an unspeakable blessing. And so as one who is freed from bondage to sin in Christ, You must learn the critical lesson of not playing around and indulging in the sin that you've been freed from. You must have a firm resolve not to sit in sin silently. As you know the consequences that David has taught you, God brings about through divine chastening. Don't wonder about the reason for your groaning and pain of your afflicted soul if you're sitting in sin. See the answer from the Lord here in Psalm 32. Don't scratch your head about your distress, but rather be quick to acknowledge your sin and to confess it to the Lord, knowing his promise, that if you confess your sins, he is faithful and just to forgive you your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness, 1 John 1.9. Indeed, David was open in confession and God was faithful in forgiveness. It's a wonderful thing when God opens our understanding and opens our lips and gives us joy as we have confidence in his forgiveness. And it's with this blessing in mind that David goes on to speak more about confession and prayer, as well as instruction and joy. Let's consider the rest of the Psalm under three headings tonight. David's call for prayer when God can be found in verses six and seven, being taught the way that you should go in verses eight and nine, as well as sorrow, mercy, and joy in verses 10 and 11. And so as David has just wonderfully spoken of the blessedness of the one whose sins are forgiven, who's cleansed, who's not guilty. Iniquity has not been imputed upon them. Indeed, as we see the joyous nature of those things, consider what he says in verse six. For this cause, everyone who is godly shall pray to you in a time when you may be found. Surely in a flood of great waters, they shall not come near him. My friends, the Apostle Paul was also a great testimony of being a recipient of divine mercy in addition to David. Consider his words to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1, beginning in verse 15, where he says, this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief. However, for this reason, I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering as a pattern to those who are going to believe on him for everlasting life. And so as we consider this pattern that God's work in Paul became to the church, to his people, Be encouraged by David's example here in Psalm 32, and God's readiness to extend great mercy to him as God answered his humble confession and supplication. And this indeed should motivate and sustain your commitment to seek the Lord as you consider it. All godly people, all of the saints are to be praying people we see here. Paul again demonstrates this in Acts 9, verse 11, as God gave instructions to Ananias regarding where and how he could find Paul right after Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus. We read there, so the Lord said to him, arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, what was he doing? He is praying. Think about it. The happiness that you have knowing your sins are pardoned. The happiness that you have knowing that you did nothing to earn that pardon as it was all of divine grace. This should encourage you to pray like the tax collector, God be merciful to me, a sinner. Further, notice David's words that prayer from the saints should come readily and frequently while the time of finding the Lord is here and now. What do we see in Paul after he was converted? He prayed. It was the Spirit's work in him. He prayed. He was found that way. What does David call us to do? Pray. especially considering all of the blessedness that we have in our forgiveness. Isaiah issues the call in Isaiah 55 verse six saying, seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. And as you consider those words, as you consider David's words that are very similar, why is such timing important? Why is such timing important? When God in his providence is calling you to seek him, and the Holy Spirit is stirring you to seek him, then you need to go quickly and seek him often. That is the crux of the matter. Listen to God's words in Zechariah chapter 8, beginning in verse 20. Thus says the Lord of hosts, peoples shall yet come, inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another saying, let us continue to go and pray before the Lord and seek the Lord of hosts. I myself will go also. Yes, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and pray before the Lord. See the personal and corporate, even national, application here. Yes, many people and strong nations will come to seek the Lord and pray before him. In many ways, we have no time to lose, beloved. Therefore, you need to be frequent before the throne every day. Again, I've said it before, I'll say it again, this is one of those areas that Staten strikes at first. If he can get you to stop being a prayerful people, he would love to do that and consider that a success in corrupting you and bringing you down from the inside out. If he can cut your communication with the living God. Beloved, delay is dangerous, we see here. One day death will come and then it will be too late to seek him. Seek him while he may be found. See how David gives both a call to pray and a statement of protection in verse six. As you're sincere and frequent in prayer, you'll find the benefit of it when you're in trouble. You know, sometimes it's easy to pray when we're in trouble, but that's not what's being said here. Sometimes it's easy for us to forget God until we are in trouble and then to cry out to him for deliverance when we are in trouble, and that's really the majority of our prayer time to him. And although it's good and right and appropriate to pray for his mercy and his provision, his rescue and deliverance in times of trouble, hear this also, go and seek the Lord often, even every day, and spend that time in frequent, sincere prayer. and you'll find the benefit of it in your day of trouble. You'll recognize even more the Lord's grace and work in your life in that day of trouble than you would have otherwise. But note that he uses imagery here also regarding Noah as he says, surely in a flood of great waters, they shall not come near him. David here depicts Noah and his family's safety in the midst of the calamity of the floodwaters that befell the wicked. In God's providence and judgment, Noah's prayers were answered as the wicked were unable to touch or harm him. They ignored him. They mocked him. They made fun of him as he was building the ark, as he was giving the warning, as he was a preacher of righteousness, declaring the wrath to come. ignored and refused to listen. But yet, they were answered. His prayers were answered as the wicked were unable to touch or harm him when those floodwaters came. Those waters of judgment. David prays for similar protection for himself. Look at verse 7. You are my hiding place. Again, very similar language as we've seen in previous Psalms, isn't it? You are my hiding place. You shall preserve me from trouble. You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. Here again, my friends, we find David praising God for his deliverance and preservation. In fact, David knew that God would receive glory as he surrounded David with a desire to praise him in song. Wherever he was, wherever David looked, and this indeed is a wonderful thing to pause and consider as we see that word, Selah, it's there intentionally, just in the right spot, He was surrounded with songs of deliverance. And what was God's response to his prayers? What was God's response to his praises? Look at verse 8. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with my eye. Beloved Westminster larger catechism, Question 76 asks the question, what is repentance unto life? The answer. Repentance unto life as a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and Word of God, whereby out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and the odiousness of his sins, and upon the apprehension of God's mercy in Christ, who such as are penitent. He so grieves for and hates his sins, as that he turns from them all to God. And notice, purposing and endeavoring constantly to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience. How does God respond? What's his promise to David? What's his promise to you today? I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. Indeed, that you're purposing and your spirit rod endeavoring will be fruitful as you walk in the path of light and in the ways of righteousness for his namesake." But see the wonderful connection here in repentance and forgiveness and obedience. God works in you to understand and see the three verbs here. I will instruct, I will teach, and I will guide. As a blessed, forgiven sinner, you must sit as Jesus's feet, as well as look to his cross. You must bear his yoke. You must learn of Christ that you would have rest for your soul. Your Savior is your instructor. The Lord Jesus, who died to pay for the debt of your sin, teaches you the way of integrity. God's Word and the work of the Holy Spirit instruct and guide you in your daily life. Notice that Jesus not only tells you the way, but leads you in the way. He also accompanies you as your teacher and guide. He is the master shepherd. He is the good shepherd. He is the great and perfect guide. In many ways, he could give us a detailed map or a specific road to follow with all of the information that we would ever need to do so well and rightly and never stray and send us on our way. And yet, what is true? He is with us. His spirit dwells within us. He's never leaving nor forsaking us, especially on that path. In this life, God doesn't pardon your sins so that you can live in your lusts, but rather so that you will learn holiness and righteousness. Christ instructs your mind also. He instructs your heart and all of your life. He provides divine counsel and caution through his law and also by his grace. Consider Jeremiah 31 verse 33. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." And so as we understand the leadership and the guidance of the lawgiver, as we understand the guidance and the instruction of our great teacher and our covenant Lord. Consider verse nine of Psalm 32. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you. Beloved, Jesus has confidence in and is tender with you when he says that he will guide you with his eye. Indeed, remember, he is the one who teaches you to understand. Here he gives you a metaphor. He gives you an illustration of animals who have no understanding, who have to have bit and bridle to be guided. But he will guide not with the rough means of a bit and bridle. Think about James 3.3. He won't guide striking you with a whip. or beating you with reins, or putting a muzzle over your mouth, he won't treat you like those in Proverbs 26, verse three, where it says, a whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool's back. But rather, he leads you with his eye. He guides you with it. Think about it this way, beloved. A master in Christ is the great master, the perfect master. He is your master. A master can give a nod or a glance at his well-trained servant, and the servant will do exactly what the master wants. The master, the servant rather, knows the nod of the master. He knows what the master is communicating. He has been well-trained in such things. And so the master communicates and the servant goes. and bids his master's will. Therefore, God says in verse nine, don't act like an animal that lacks understanding and has to be guided by rough means. As children of God, don't yield your mind and body to things that you're meant to subdue. Don't be like the horse or the mule. Don't be wild and untrained in thought, word, and action, but rather keep your mind and your heart and your body in control and under subjection to the word and will of God. He teaches you to understand. He teaches you to see and obey. But notice in verse 10, David speaks of sorrow and mercy and joy. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Again, see the repetition here of this surrounding language. It's beautiful. Mercy shall surround him, even as songs of deliverance would surround him as he engaged in prayer and praise. These words, indeed, are a bookend contrast to how David opened this psalm, aren't they? Along with the main theme of the psalm, and that being, blessed, forgiven sinners and the path of blessedness. But here we see, any sorrows shall be to the wicked, but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. Many sorrows will be upon the wicked as the opposite of the blessings in verse one. That will be true of them. See, condemned and sorrowful is the man under judgment whose transgression remains unforgiven, whose sin remains uncovered, to whom the Lord imputes iniquity and whose spirit is full of deceit. The opposite of each of the things of blessedness that were stated in verse one are true of the wicked. Indeed, that adds sorrow upon sorrow. Sorrow further ensues, as Solomon says in Proverbs 13.21, evil pursues sinners, but to the righteous, good shall be repaid. Sorrow is also in abundance in the condition Paul speaks of in Romans 2, beginning in verse 8, when he says, but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who works what is good. to the Jew first and also to the Greek, for there is no partiality with God. Indeed, as we consider these comparisons and contrasts between the wicked and the blessed, David proclaims, consider more of in verse 10, that mercy shall surround the righteous man who trusts the Lord. What wonderful words of comfort again for you today. Today is a great day of comfort, isn't it, from the word of the Lord? Interestingly, this picture of being surrounded by mercy, it's very similar to that in verse seven of God surrounding David with these songs of deliverance. It's the same Hebrew word and concept. You who trust in God are encompassed by the abundant mercy of Christ. as you rely on his providence and promise for divine preservation and deliverance, you wholeheartedly commit yourself to God's care as you wait upon him in his way, and the way that he leads you in, and the way that he guides you in. And therefore, considering all of this, David rightly calls you to be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart, you blessed, forgiven sinners. Rejoice in the Lord your God. Well, as we consider the ending of this psalm, beloved, May your prayers be all the more fueled today by the knowledge of the blessing of your being forgiven by Christ. May they be all the more sincere and frequent. As you're in the practice of such prayer, be watchful for the benefits of it when you're in trial and trouble. Do so. And as you see and know God's mercy to you in Christ more and more, as you hate your sin and turn from them all to God, how is your endeavor constantly to walk with Jesus in all of the ways of new obedience? Desire to be taught and led by Christ as he guides you with his eye. Take great comfort in assurance that if you trust in the Lord and keep closely to him, mercy will compass you about on every side so that you will not depart from God. For Christ's mercy will keep you in as well as guard you from evil, keeping it out. Again, the blessing of your Lord, the grace of your God, you blessed and forgiven sinners, you righteous and upright in heart. We'll praise God for his word. Let's pray together. Our gracious God and Heavenly Father, as we are blessed by your great grace and mercy to us, as we're blessed by your instruction and your kindness and your guidance and your leadership, as you call us to pray, may we do all of these things in faithful obedience according to your word. O Lord, work in us what is right and well-pleasing. Cause us to understand who we are in Christ and cause us to rise up and to be thankful and to praise you all the more. Cause us, Lord, to be faithful to all that you've shown us here for your glory. We pray this in Christ's name, amen.