“Mercy Surrounds Those Who Trust in the LORD”
Psalm 32:10-11
10. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.
11. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
The “sorrows of the wicked” is contrasted with “those who trust in the Lord” and the mercy of the Lord that surrounds them. Walking outside of God’s way brings sorrow (see verse 3). But, mercy and deliverance is available for all those that trust in and walk with the Lord.
Mercy is God’s unfailing lovingkindness. Love never fails (1 Cor. 13) and God has shown just how much He loves the world through Jesus Christ. His unfailing love surrounds those who trust in Him.
Trust is faith and obedience in His word and His Spirit. “He who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.”
The trust spoken of here in Psalm 32:10 is equivalent to our reliance on God in verse seven. Believing in Christ and keeping His commandments are inseparable (see John 13:31-16:33).
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another (John 13:34).”
“If you love Me, keep My commandments (14:15).”
“…the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him (John 4:23).”
“Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent (John 6:28-29).’"
“At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him (14:20-21).”
“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me (14:23-24).”
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing (15:4-5).”
Intellectual belief in Christ is not faith. Jesus said, “not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven (see Matthew 7:21-23).” The Lord is gracious and patient with our short comings. Branches that remain connected to vines do not produce perfect fruit, but they do produce fruit. God will perfect us in His time. But we must be abiding in Christ, moving ever closer to Him and His perfect will for our lives. If we are truly trusting in Him we will produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:19-26). By God’s grace, through faith, the Spirit Himself is changing us from the inside out. We must cooperate with the Lord by seeking Him daily, yielding to His will and walking in the power and love of the Spirit. The result will be a beautiful and miraculous production of the fruit of God in our life.
“Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart (Psalm 32:11)!”
“You righteous” and “you upright in heart” speaks of the righteousness of Christ that is now ours through faith in Jesus Christ, imputed to us because of God’s amazing grace. Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, shout for joy! “Rejoice” could be described as “spinning around in violent emotion, beaming in joy.” “Shout for joy” triumphantly, because of all the Lord has done for us (see Psalm 107).
Rejoicing in forgiveness comes from the assurances of God’s love, protection, guidance and forgiveness, even if we sin.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).”
“Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
(1 Thess. 5:16-18)
“Of all people, Christians have reason to be most joyous. God has forgiven us of our sins, and we have the hope of eternal life with Jesus Christ. Our relationship with God has been restored through Jesus Christ, so we may now pray without ceasing. Prayer is the constant awareness of and communion with God and the awe that we have as we worship Him. So, in everything, we give thanks. We know our life is in God’s hands and His purpose. Nothing can happen to me except God allows it. And if God allows it to happen to me, He has a purpose for it. We are to be a joyful church, a praying church and a thankful church. ‘This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.’” (the proceeding paragraph was taken from The Word for Today Bible, page 1579, “The Will of God”, by Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa)
Trust in the Lord. Call on His name. Seek Him, and you will find Him. Draw close to Him and He will draw close to you. God’s unfailing love surrounds those who trust in Him.
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