This last verse was spoken in reference to Jesus Christ during His Millenial reign; however, what will be true of Him then, is also true of Him now: He is our refuge, our covert from the tempest, our hiding place. Is He your hiding place?

Psalm 32 contains the word maschil in its title. This word simply means “instructive”, and is one way for the Lord to highlight certain portions of His Word to us. Like Jesus stating “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear,” to emphasize certain things He was saying, even so, King David here says that this is an instructive Psalm. Pay attention – there is much wisdom we can glean from this chapter to apply to our lives.

What is Jesus our hiding place from?

From Fear.

– In service.

Proverbs 19:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

– When facing death.

Proverbs 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death. The word for hope here means “to flee for protection, confide in, to have hope, make refuge, put trust.”

From Enemies.

Psalm 143:9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto Thee to hide me.

Jeremiah 36:26 But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.

From Sin and Temptation.

Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

From Trouble.

Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge.

Psalm 91:1-2 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.

Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Psalm 66:12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

Who can enter this hiding place?

David does not say, “Thou art a hiding place” merely, as one among many; or the “hiding place,” as the only one; but, “Thou art my hiding place.” There lies all the excellency of the text. “He is mine; I have embraced the offer of his salvation,” says David; “I have applied to him in my own person: I have, as a sinner, taken shelter in his love and compassion; I have placed myself under his wings; I have covered myself with the robe of his righteousness; and now, therefore, I am safe.”

Suppose a traveller upon a bleak and exposed heath to be alarmed by the approach of a storm. He looks out for shelter. But if his eye discern a place to hide him from the storm, does he stand still and say, “I see there is a shelter, and therefore I may remain where I am”? Does he not betake himself to it? Does he not run, in order to escape the stormy wind and tempest? It was a “hiding place” before; but it was his hiding place only when he ran into it, and was safe. Had he not gone into it, though it might have been a protection to a thousand other travellers who resorted there, to him it would have been as if no such place existed. Who does not see at once, from this simple illustration, that the blessings of the gospel are such only in their being appropriated to the soul? The physician can cure only by being applied to; the medicine can heal only by being taken; money can enrich only by being possessed; and the merchantman in the parable would have been none the wealthier for discovering that there was a “pearl of great price,” had he not made it his. So with the salvation of the gospel: if Christ is the “Balm in Gilead,” apply the remedy; if he is the “physician there,” go to him; if he is the “pearl of great price,” sell all that you have and buy it; and if he is the “hiding place,” run into it and be safe; there will be no solid joy and peace in the mind until he is your “hiding place.” Fountain Elwin, 1842. (Taken from The Treasury Of David)

1) Notice the first two verses of Psalm 32: Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

The foundation of all our spiritual blessings is our salvation in Jesus Christ. When we turn to Him in repentance and faith, believing in His death as the payment for our sins, His burial and literal, physical resurrection, He saves us. He wipes the slate clean of the record of our sins. They are no longer credited to our account, but, instead, we have imputed (credited) to us His perfect righteousness.

This hiding place is for those whose sins are forgiven – God’s children, those who are born-again. Romans 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works. There is a popular saying that lightning never strikes the same place twice. Even so, the lightning of God’s wrath will never strike twice. Two thousand years ago, God the Father placed His wrath for sin upon His Son, Jesus Christ, as He bore our sins upon the cross. If we receive Jesus’ gift of salvation and the forgiveness of sins, accepting His complete payment for our sins, through faith, we will be placed in Jesus Christ. The lightning of God’s wrath will never strike us – it has already struck our Substitute! Divine wrath will never strike the same place twice! Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Salvation in Jesus Christ is not presented as a forbidding fortress, but as a strong tower. There is no closed drawbridge, or iron portcullis waiting to slam down on the unwary, but our Lord is an inviting tower that locks out the enemies, protects from the storms and all other danger. He is the only true place of safety in this world!

2) Psalm 32:3-5 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Those who maintain their fellowship with the Lord and who confess and forsake their sins will find Jesus is the perfect hiding place. Don’t let sin bar your way to this refuge! When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, His blood cleanses us from all sins and wipes out the record of our iniquities. Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

3) Psalm 32:6-7, 11 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

Who can enter this hiding place? The godly (righteous) can enter this refuge through prayer. As we draw close to our Heavenly Father through heartfelt prayer, we enter this hiding place. 2 Corinthians 6:2 (For He saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Isaiah 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near. If you are unsaved and still feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit, repent now before it is too late – and turn from your sins. Accept the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the free gift of salvation He offers. Let Him be your hiding place for all eternity!

4) Psalms 32:8-9 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

Who else can enter this hiding place? Those who listen to God’s Word, who heed it, and let it guide their conduct. Let the Lord instruct and guide you day by day, and when the storms of life come, you will find yourself safely in the center of His will and held securely in the hollow of His hand!

5) Psalms 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

Lastly, there is one final person that this passage teaches can enter this hiding place: those who trust in the Lord. My friend, are you trusting in the Lord? Are you leaning on Him, and letting Him be your all-in-all? Why not trust in Jesus with all your heart, and you will find He is the only refuge worth hiding in! All others will fail time and again, but Jesus never will!

No doubt about it, storms will come. Let Him be your hiding place.

My Hiding Place

Chorus:
Lord, You are my hiding place, standing strong and sure,
My refuge in the storms of life, a fortress that will endure.

Lord, You are my hiding place through life’s stormy gale;
You are my fount of grace when my strength begins to fail.

You are my hiding place though enemies surround;
You fill my heart with Your peace – peace that always abounds.

When my sins come back to haunt me and I need a hiding place,
You shelter me under Your wings, and remove all of sin’s trace.

Lord, You are my hiding place – whom shall I fear?
Why should my soul be cast down when You are always near?

You are my hiding place – You took in this lonely waif –
In Jesus, I know I am secure, I know I’m forever safe.

When the tempests come – their winds and waves crash over me,
You are my hiding place – the only place I long to be.

Thou art my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble;
Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Psalm 32:7

Is Jesus Your Hiding Place?

Poem written December 25th, 2002
Study written January 28th, 2003
By Jerry Bouey