Psalm 32:5 – 11
Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 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!
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
For those of us who have lived a life like Judah, we see hope in Paul’s words of God’s demonstrated love: "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." All we have to do is humbly turn to Him and accept that love. When we repent of our sins and turn to the Lord, we stop trying to hide our sins from Him and instead find a place of safety and protection that we can hide within.
Tamar’s life was painful and unhealthy, and it’s easy to see that she could easily have felt left out and marginalized. But when you zoom out and look at the big picture, you can see God’s redemptive plan and His fingerprints on the outcomes!
For those of us who understand Tamar’s experience, or may experience relational pain soon, we find peace in David’s words in Psalm 32:7,
You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Peace, hope, and love – which one do you need right now? Ask Him, and you will receive it!