Psalm 32 and 33 … Consider Him, Our Hiding Place

Originally posted: 10/10/2020

You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance, (32:7).

There was much to consider about Him in these two Psalms. Psalms 32 and 33 both begin with an emphasis on the only way we can be in relationship with Holy God. It is when our transgressions are forgiven, our sins our covered, and in our very spirit, we are made righteous and upright before Him.

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
² How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit! (32:1-2).

Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright, (33:1).

Scripture is also clear that forgiveness of sins is not possible apart from the shedding of blood.

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness, (Hebrews 9:22).

And to be more specific, it is the  blood of Jesus Christ that covers our sin and imputes the very righteousness of Christ to those who come to Him by faith in His blood shed for our sins.

“for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins,” (Matthew 26:28).

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, (2 Corinthians 5:21).

And when by faith we receive His forgiveness, He brings us to Himself, to keep us from the evil one; and as He is in the Father, we are in Him, Our Hiding Place.

“I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one… ²¹ that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me… ²⁴ Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world,” (John 17:15, 21, 24).

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God, (Colossians 3:3).

Consider Him, Our Hiding Place

• He is Our Hiding Place, the Place of forgiveness and righteousness.
  • How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
    Whose sin is covered!
    ² How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
    And in whose spirit there is no deceit! (32:1-2).
  • For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, (Colossians 1:13-14).

• He is Our Hiding Place, the Place that preserves us from trouble.
  • You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble… (32:7).
  • “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world,” (John 16:33).
    

• He is Our Hiding Place, the Place that surrounds us with songs of deliverance.
  • …You surround me with songs of deliverance, (32:7).
  •  And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation,” (Revelation 5:9).

• He is Our Hiding Place, the Place that surrounds us with His lovingkindness.
  • Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
    But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him, (32:10).
  • For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, (Romans 8:38-39).

• He is Our Hiding Place, the Place that fulfills His Word in truth and faithfulness.
  • For the word of the Lord is upright,
    And all His work is done in faithfulness, (33:4).
  • “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill,” (Matthew 5:17).

• He is Our Hiding Place, the Place that is our help and shield.
  • Our soul waits for the Lord;
    He is our help and our shield, (33:20).
  • For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need, (Hebrews 4:15-16).

How do we respond to Him, Our Hiding Place?

Of course, it all begins with faith. Faith in the sacrifice of His Son that forgives and redeems. Faith in His Word that is always upright and true. And faith that He is Our Hiding Place and He will surround us with His lovingkindness and deliverance.

The last verse in Psalm 33 is very telling.

Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You, (33:22).

It is almost as if David is saying, Lord because we wait in confident hope for You, we expect You to meet us with Your love, right where our lives are hidden, in You. And really, that is what faith does; waits in expectation, expecting nothing less than what is hoped for.

So today, let’s expect nothing less. Let us confess the truth in faith: He is Our Hiding Place; the Place we receive His forgiveness and righteousness; the Place He preserves us from trouble; the Place He surrounds us with songs of deliverance and His lovingkindness; the Place His Word is fulfilled; and the Place we find rest in Him as our help and our shield.

You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance, (32:7).

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God, (Colossians 3:3).

And let us learn from David. We must fuel our faith and hearten our hope; and David has provided plenty of fuel in these two Psalms.

• When trouble assails, let us by faith, choose to rejoice in Him, Our Hiding Place.
  • Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones;
    And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart, (32:11).

• Each day is a new opportunity to offer Him praise. May we never miss the opportunity to sing a new song of faith, thanksgiving and praise to Him, Our Hiding Place.
  • Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones;
    Praise is becoming to the upright.
    ² Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
    Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.
    ³ Sing to Him a new song;
    Play skillfully with a shout of joy. (33:1-2).

• Let us come to Him, Our Hiding Place, in faith, asking Him to transform our hearts and minds through His faithful and upright Word, that He would grow us in our understanding and love of all that He loves.
  • For the word of the Lord is upright,
    And all His work is done in faithfulness.
    ⁵ He loves righteousness and justice;
    The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord, (33:4-5).

• When the enemy’s attacks are relentless, let us refuse to seek help from human means. Oh, may we come in faith and humility to Him, Our Hiding Place, as we trust Him, and Him, alone for our deliverance.
  • The king is not saved by a mighty army;
    A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
    ¹⁷ A horse is a false hope for victory;
    Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.
    ¹⁸ Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
    On those who hope for His lovingkindness, (33:16-18).

Lord, may we grow to become as bold as Your servant, David. We put all our hope in You and Your lovingkindness, and with confidence we look to You to meet us in the Place of our faith, in You, Our Hiding Place.

Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You, (33:22).

Let’s Grow Together!