Called to Persevere (Psalm 32; COD Head 5 Arts 1-8)
Introduction
We can hear the slogan“Once Saved Always Saved!” as a summary of the Christian life. This sounds like you go through life on easy cruis control as a mindless muppet. The Canons of Dort, Reformed Theology, clarifies that believers can fall into serious sin, and God may allow us to experience the consequences. However, the assurance remains that God will ultimately bring His people out of darkness.
We consider Psalm 32. This is David’s reflection of his falling into sin. David fell, was restored, and now he teaches us the wisdom of perseverance.
The Joy of Forgiveness (Psalm 32:1-5)
David begins with a celebration of God’s forgiveness. There is blessing in knowing our sins are forgiven and covered by God. Yet he also describes the agony of unconfessed sin: bones wasting away, groaning all day long, feeling God's heavy hand pressing upon him. David is describing the soul rot of unconfessed sin before the Lord.
When David finally acknowledges his sin comprehensively, then he sees the joy that God forgives immediately. The lesson is clear: trying to hide sin or thinking it will bring satisfaction only leads to misery. The Spirit continues to press on believers, even in their darkest moments, pushing sin to the surface. True relief comes through confession and finding mercy in Christ.
The Only Hope (Psalm 32:6-7)
David shifts to instruction for the godly. We might feel like the waters will destroy us. However, as we continue to offer prayers to God we see that God is our hiding place. , He is our shelter in the darkest valleys. Even when believers feel abandoned or alone, God remains present. He hears our prayers and is our shield and defender.
The Canons of Dort remind us of the church's vital role here: through the preaching of the gospel, the Spirit renews believers to repentance. We never outgrow our need for the gospel message. Each week, we need to hear again that we are new creatures in Christ, that our Savior is at work, and that not all is lost. God works in His timing through His Word, accomplishing His purposes even in those we might consider "lost causes."
The Lasting Lesson (Psalm 32:8-9)
David instructs believers not to be like horses or mules. These are stubborn animals that need bits and bridles to control them. The warning is against testing the boundaries of God's grace. Christian liberty means understanding biblical boundaries and, in wisdom, sometimes setting additional boundaries for our own protection and God's glory. The example of Eve in the Garden shows both the danger of adding to God's commands. She puts words in God’s mouth that he never said. She should have said they had the wisdom not to touch the tree. We need to remember that God does not deny us good things. True wisdom calls us to see that God is calling us to good. We do not just die in our sanctification, but we live in the Spirit.
God does not call us to fasting, but to the eternal feast of the Lamb.
Conclusion
David's instruction flows from lived experience: he pursued sin thinking it would bring joy, and tried to cover it up by his silence. He suffered miserably under God's discipline. He confessed his sin to God and found restoration.
Now, on the other side, he teaches others the wise path. He learned the wisdom to live within God’s boundaries and not test grace's boundaries. The beauty of the Canons of Dort is its pastoral realism: believers may fall into serious sin and experience dark seasons, but God remains faithful. He will not forsake His people. Through the ongoing preaching of the gospel and the work of the Spirit, God renews, restores, and preserves those who are His until they reach their eternal home.
Let us not be a people who seek to be the dumb animals who need constant restraint. Let us live by the Spirit for Christ’s glory. Let us persevere in God’s preserving power.