A hiding place

So I have been reading Romans 4-8 recently. I even have Realplayer looping through the NLT audio of these chapters at different times during the day. It's amazing how little nuggets pop out each time I read or hear it.

Here's a snippet from chapter 4:

1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.

What an amazing connection from Abraham's faith to Ps 32 of David! Ps 32 was brought to my attention again a few weeks ago in lifegroup at my church. David is praising God for forgiving his inquity and not counting them against him. Verses 6 and 7 contain another great picture of God's protection:

6 Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters,they shall not reach him. 7 You are a hiding place for me;you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

Praise be to God who removes the guilt for my transgressions, who hides me in a place where the troubled waters can not reach me. Amen.

Oh yeah, by-the-way, (meditated on this while walking the dog and had to add more) God's forgiveness and protection isn't dependent on what I do, who I am in public or in private. It is who GOD is. David's relief from anguish came when he acknowledged his sin and confessed it to God. God's forgiveness is an ever present, ever flowing fountain. There is no off switch. Asking for God's forgiveness is like asking for air to breathe. It is always there.