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Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
    it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
² Praise the Lord with the harp;
    make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
³ Sing to him a new song;
    play skilfully, and shout for joy.

⁴ For the word of the Lord is right and true;
    he is faithful in all he does.
⁵ The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of his unfailing love.

⁶ By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
    their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;
    he puts the deep into storehouses.
⁸ Let all the earth fear the Lord;
    let all the people of the world revere him.
⁹ For he spoke, and it came to be;
    he commanded, and it stood firm.

In the church we are always in danger of losing balance, and running to one extreme or another. We are rather good at creating false dichotomies. For example, there are the people who are really ‘into’ praise and worship. For them, it matters immensely that the church should have a great band (or outstanding organist and choir!!). Whether ‘ancient’ or ‘modern’ in style, the music is the thing for them. At the other end of the scale there are the ‘Word’ people, who would prefer 45 minutes of solid Bible exposition to the same amount of time given over to singing and dancing etc. There is also a danger that some of them may feel a little superior; be rather ‘sniffy’ towards the ‘praise and worship’ bunch. Intellectual pride can be a sin of those who see themselves as ‘Word’ people.

But, what God has joined together we should not separate, and there is a great balance in these nine verses. Note that the call is for joyful singing and skilful playing in response to God’s mighty Word. We must not think in terms of worship followed by the Word, or the Word followed by Worship. Biblical worship has the Word of God at its heart. It is Bible-centred.

It has been said: ‘If you just have the Word you will dry up; if you just have the Spirit you will blow up. But if you have the Word and the Spirit together you will grow up.’

” Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. ²⁴ God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.’ ” John 4:23,24 NIVUK

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
    I will advise you and watch over you.
⁹ Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
    that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

¹⁰ Many sorrows come to the wicked,
    but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
¹¹ So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
    Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! NLT

We pulled into a car park a day or two ago, and there was a huge lorry in front of us, bearing this message in big lettering: ‘A guiding light when the road ahead is dark’. Below it there was a link to the headlight project, which, I later discovered has been set up with the aim of reducing the number of deaths by suicide in the Tees Valley.

But it was that ‘guiding light’ in the ‘dark’ that captured my attention when I first saw it.

I am grateful for every clear promise in Scripture concerning God’s guidance. Here in Psalm 32:8 is one of them. Jilly and I have just finished reading Isobel Kuhn’s inspirational book, ‘In the arena’. I was struck by these words in her penultimate chapter:

‘I believe it was D.E.Hoste who said that the older he grew the harder it seemed to get guidance from the Lord. I believe he meant that guidance becomes less simple. God expects us to exercise spiritual discernment, and He guides by a certain pressure on the spirit, by a still small voice, by a something so delicately intangible that unless you are carefully tuned in to His Spirit, so to speak, you can miss it widely.’

But God’s promises are true, and His guidance is real, as multitudes of believers can testify.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
⁹ Do not be like the horse or the mule,
    which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
    or they will not come to you.
¹⁰ Many are the woes of the wicked,
    but the Lord’s unfailing love
    surrounds the one who trusts in him.

¹¹ Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
    sing, all you who are upright in heart! NIVUK

‘The Lord’s teaching is not an impersonal dictat but the loving word of a caring God. Just so, our response should not be the forced compliance of an uncomprehending beast but a correspondingly loving obedience.’ Alec Motyer

Warren Wiersbe says of David in Psalm 32:

‘David was like a stubborn animal that needed to be broken. When you are out of the will of God, your decisions will often create problems instead of solve them. The way gets harder.

David went from silence (v.3) to singing (v.7) because he finally was honest with God and confessed his sins (vv.5-6).’

PRAYER: ‘Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee O Lord…’

¹ Oh, what joy for those
    whose disobedience is forgiven,
    whose sin is put out of sight!
² Yes, what joy for those
    whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
    whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
³ When I refused to confess my sin,
    my body wasted away,
    and I groaned all day long.
⁴ Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
    My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.  Interlude

⁵ Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
    and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
    And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.  Interlude

⁶ Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
    that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
⁷ For you are my hiding place;
    you protect me from trouble.
    You surround me with songs of victory.  Interlude (New Living Translation).

Psalm 32 resonates, does it not? I think we all know what it is be weighed down with the guilt of sin, and we may also know the sheer relief that comes with confession to God, and the assurance of His love and forgiveness.

‘My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought—
  My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to His Cross, and I bear it no more;
  Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!’ Horatio Spafford

If this psalm belongs to the time of David’s adultery with Bathsheba, verses 3,4 show how he was burdened by a guilty conscience, and verse 5 corresponds to 2 Sam.12:13:

”Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’

Nathan replied, ‘The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.’ ”

But notice how David applies this lesson from his experience in verse 6a:

‘If prayer is sufficient to deal with the most serious problem of all – the sin which could be counted against us before God (1-5) – will not prayer solve every problem of life (6)? Such is the theme of this psalm…’ Alec Motyer

God, in answer to prayer, can deal with the biggest problem of all. Everything else we bring to Him is small by comparison.

‘Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscles of omnipotence.’ C.H.Spurgeon

Let me not be put to shame, Lord,
    for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
    and be silent in the realm of the dead.
¹⁸ Let their lying lips be silenced,
    for with pride and contempt
    they speak arrogantly against the righteous. NIVUK

I want to add just one ‘P.S’ to these thoughts on Psalm 31. I found this comment by Alec Motyer to be illuminating, helpful and relevant to the times:

‘…when the righteous, those who are ‘right with God’, the Lord’s people, are under threat, it is right to pray for the downfall of their adversaries (17-18). The psalms refuse vengeful action but affirm prayer for vengeance, the overthrow of ungodly persecutors by the just action of God.’

That seemed to me to be too important to not share more widely.

PRAYER: Maybe we can pick up on a situation in the news today, and pray for God’s persecuted people.

¹⁹ How great is the goodness
    you have stored up for those who fear you.
You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,
    blessing them before the watching world.
²⁰ You hide them in the shelter of your presence,
    safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence,
    far from accusing tongues.

²¹ Praise the Lord,
    for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.
    He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
²² In panic I cried out,
    “I am cut off from the Lord!”
But you heard my cry for mercy
    and answered my call for help.

²³ Love the Lord, all you godly ones!
    For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him,
    but he harshly punishes the arrogant.
²⁴ So be strong and courageous,
    all you who put your hope in the Lord! NLT

David came through his troubles with a testimony. He proved God (19-22), and was then able to encourage others to trust in his trustworthy Lord (23,24).

” And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Rom. 8:28 NIV

For David, this included experiencing God’s protection when he was in a ‘besieged city’ (21b). This probably doesn’t refer to any one particular location, but more metaphorically to the sense of being ‘hemmed in’. In that case, we also have spent time in that city.

David’s life was not trouble-free. (Obviously!) But for centuries, a ”watching world” (19b) has been able to look on and see what a God-blessed life looks like – yes, even amid sin and failure.

⁹ Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress.
    Tears blur my eyes.
    My body and soul are withering away.
¹⁰ I am dying from grief;
    my years are shortened by sadness.
Sin has drained my strength;
    I am wasting away from within.
¹¹ I am scorned by all my enemies
    and despised by my neighbours—
    even my friends are afraid to come near me.
When they see me on the street,
    they run the other way.
¹² I am ignored as if I were dead,
    as if I were a broken pot.
¹³ I have heard the many rumors about me,
    and I am surrounded by terror.
My enemies conspire against me,
    plotting to take my life.

¹⁴ But I am trusting you, O Lord,
    saying, “You are my God!”
¹⁵ My future is in your hands.
    Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
¹⁶ Let your favor shine on your servant.
    In your unfailing love, rescue me.
¹⁷ Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord,
    for I call out to you for help.
Let the wicked be disgraced;
    let them lie silent in the grave.
¹⁸ Silence their lying lips—
    those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly. NLT

The eminent theologian, Tom Wright (N.T. Wright) was asked, in an interview, where people should be encouraged to start reading in the Bible. He replied by saying there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer. It depends on their background and where they are. But, as a general rule, he suggested starting with one of the gospels, Mark in particular. Or the Psalms. He said, in effect, you will find every emotion in the world expressed there – good and bad.

Psalm 31 is full of emotion. What a state David was in.

Somebody said, regarding verse 12, that David was ‘yesterday’s man’. Certainly he seemed to feel that. But that wasn’t the worst of it. They say that we are experiencing an ‘epidemic of loneliness’ in our times, and David knew what it was to feel alone in his day – abandoned even by his friends. It appears he may also have endured some sickness, but he was prepared to admit that his own sin had contributed. Look at verse 10b. Sin may not always make you ill, but it is generally debilitating, and some sins have regrettable, even disastrous consequences. Some may be irreperable.

However, the entire atmosphere changes with the word ”But” at verse 14. David was alone, and possibly did feel lonely, but he had a living relationship with God and trusted in Him. So he was not alone. His Lord did not let him down. As we will see, David came through all of this with a glorious testimony.

Alec Motyer heads these verses ” ‘Your hands’ versus ‘their hands’ ”, and comments, ‘The hand of God is not the place where we are immune from life’s troubles; it is the place where they happen to us (John 10:28-29); our security is not from trouble but in trouble.’

O Lord, I have come to you for protection;
    don’t let me be disgraced.
    Save me, for you do what is right.
² Turn your ear to listen to me;
    rescue me quickly.
Be my rock of protection,
    a fortress where I will be safe.
³ You are my rock and my fortress.
    For the honour of your name, lead me out of this danger.
⁴ Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,
    for I find protection in you alone.
⁵ I entrust my spirit into your hand.
    Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.

⁶ I hate those who worship worthless idols.
    I trust in the Lord.
⁷ I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,
    for you have seen my troubles,
    and you care about the anguish of my soul.
⁸ You have not handed me over to my enemies
    but have set me in a safe place. NLT

‘The person in scripture who has the most extensively told story is the same person who is shown to be most at prayer. The outside of his life is told in story, the inside is told in prayer. The books of Samuel and Chronicles give the plot to David’s story, the Psalms show the passion.’ Eugene Peterson

Alec Motyer writes, ‘Twice (1-8, 9-17b) David recalls how in a sharp trial he resorted to trustful prayer and commitment and how the Lord heard and acted on his behalf (21,22), giving him cause to call others to a similar hope (23,24). The psalm, therefore, not only instructs us to meet crises with prayer (1-18) but assures us of the effectiveness of doing so (19-24)…Here in principle is the antidote to a crisis; prayerful and trustful, devoted seeking of God.’

He heads verses 1-8: ‘The fortress versus the trap’

As we will see later, in verses 19,20, David finds in God, ‘a strong place to stand, a secure place to enter…’ Motyer

He is a ”rock” and ”fortress”. He lives up to His Name!

He is our ”faithful God” (5b).

On the day I wrote this, Jilly and I had been reading the story of Jesus walking on the water in Matthew 14. The point has been made many times before, but we noted it again, that Peter was fine so long as he fixed his eyes on Jesus. But once his focus was diverted onto the storm, he was in danger of going under.

Psalm 31 encourages us to look at, and to, the Lord. David’s testimony is that in Him there is safety.

May we all, today, have a renewed sense of the reality of prayer, and see that it is a living thing in which we relate personally to the living God.

The wind blows wherever it pleases. (John 3:8a NIVUK)

Recently, we were driving across a fairly remote stretch of moorland, on our way to a service in another Dale. For the first time in many a year, we came across a hitch-hiker. He was trudging up the road towards Kettlewell, with several weary miles ahead of him.When we picked him up, he told us that the few passing cars were all heading in the opposite direction. Just a little way farther up the road, we came across one of his buddies, and managed to squeeze him into the back seat also, with his pack spread across both their knees.

It turned out they were paragliders. The first guy we met told us he had ‘made a mistake’ at some point after taking off, and ended up landing somewhere he didn’t intend. As we dropped them off at their starting point, I believe paraglider number 1 was going to go again.

Over the last few days I’ve thought quite a bit about this encounter. I am not a paraglider, but I believe these people are dependent on riding the thermals. There are a few things they have to do (and things they can get wrong!), but they are totally dependent on the wind/air for flight. They have to co-operate with nature. They are not, ultimately, in control.

I was thinking, in terms of the moving of the Holy Spirit (who, in Scripture, is likened to the wind) we can position ourselves for flight. We can also mess things up. We can ”keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal.5:25), and we can get out of step. We can, sadly, quench, or grieve the Holy Spirit.

But it is the ‘blowing’ of the sovereign Spirit of God that is all important.

I heard a man say about revival, that when the Spirit of God is moving in power, you may as well try and control a hurricane. He shows us that we are not in charge.

PRAYER: Lord God, in these days when we hear of the wind of your Spirit blowing in many places, may we be ready for take-off. Help us to step off our comfortable hillsides and cliff tops, and trust to the ‘thermals’. We want to fly with you O gracious Lord.

I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me.
    You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
² O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you restored my health.
³ You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.
    You kept me from falling into the pit of death.

⁴ Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!
    Praise his holy name.
⁵ For his anger lasts only a moment,
    but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.

⁶ When I was prosperous, I said,
    “Nothing can stop me now!”
⁷ Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.
    Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.

⁸ I cried out to you, O Lord.
    I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,
⁹ “What will you gain if I die,
    if I sink into the grave?
Can my dust praise you?
    Can it tell of your faithfulness?
¹⁰ Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me.
    Help me, O Lord.”

¹¹ You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
    You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
¹² that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever! NLT

I want to spend just one more day on this psalm, and with a particular end in view.

I have just re-written my prayer list, having known for some time that I’ve needed to do this. In the past I have at times used lists, but recently it’s been my practice to work from memory, and it is easy to then miss some people/situations/needs for which I feel I ought to be praying.

There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to the making of prayer lists. My current list covers six days of the week. It’s not my intention to miss a day praying, but the ‘buffer zone’ can be helpful.

In my notebook there are one or two prayer points for every day of the week: these, ideally, to be offered daily. The others are spread across the six days I’ve earmarked. So in the main, I’m not praying for everyone/everything every day. If on Monday I am praying for person a) and person b), on Tuesday my focus will be on someone else. (But, of course, as the need arises, I can transfer someone to the every day list for a ‘season’)

If this all sounds rather rigid, I see it more as laying down a ‘track’ for the train of prayer to run along. But I want to always be flexible, so that if God signals that I need to switch tracks I will be ready for the change of points.

I see the list, then, as a guide to prayer, and not a burdensome self-imposed rule book. it will also inevitably require editing as time goes by. But it keeps reminding me of those who I believe should be in my regular prayers at this time.

I realise that many others also have some form of prayer framework, whether written down or memorised. I want to encourage you today to return to Psalm 30 and trust God to match up words, phrases, themes, ideas with the needs and people on your list. You might even want to jot down a Scripture next to their name.

May God bless and guide you as you pray today…and every day you pray. It is powerful to pray the Word.