This morning we will be looking at Psalm 32. Psalm 32, a psalm of David was originally written as a song in which many believe was to be sung on the Day of Atonement, (the day in which all Israel would gather for the sacrifice of sin).
As David pens this psalm, he is instructing the readers of the true nature of blessedness. Since Adam and Eve’s fall in the Garden of Eden, man has sought after true happiness. Since the fall in the garden man has sought find acceptance before God. David undertakes the task to show that true happiness comes from finding favor with God.
So often in life we really forget what is important. Is there anything more important than having your transgressions forgiven, and not having your sin counted against you? There have come times in my life when all of the circumstances have clouded my thinking and I begin to dwell on the who’s, what’s, where’s, and I would begin to major on the minor issues of life.
There was one day in particular in which I felt as if I had just blown it so bad that there was no hope. Sinking in self pity and despair, the Holy Spirit nudged my heart and prompted me to read this psalm. As I began to read these words... "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him, and in whose spirit there is no deceit." As I read these words my heart melted and I knew that the only thing in life that really mattered was that I am accepted by God.
There are those hear today who can relate, you have miserably failed and you wonder how God can ever for give you, accept you, use you. As we look at Psalm 32 today, allow the Holy Spirit to melt away the hurt, the disappointments of life, the past failures, the heart hardened by sin. Allow the Holy Spirit to show you and remind you of the most important matters of life, to be forgiven and accepted by God.
This morning we will break down Psalm 32 in two parts. Verses 1-6 we will consider the true blessing and comfort in which we receive from union with God. In particular we will consider six points of interest.
"1. Concerning the nature of the pardon of sin.
2. Concerning the character of those who sins are pardoned.
3. Concerning the uncomfortable condition of the unrepentant.
4. Concerning the true and only was to peace of conscience.
5. Concerning God’s readiness to pardon sin."
Verses 7-11 we will consider David’s experience that he had concerning the comfort of pardoning mercy.
"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of the summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgression to the Lord- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him." Psalm 32:1-6
I. Concerning the nature and the pardon of sin.
Psalm 32:1-2
The Biblical Understanding of Sin.
"In the biblical perspective, sin is not only the act of wrongdoing but the state of alienation from God. For the great prophets of Israel, sin is much more than the violation of a taboo or the transgression of an external ordinance. It signifies the rupture of a personal relationship with God, a betrayal of the trust He places in us.
We become most aware of our sinfulness in the presence of the holy God (cf. Isaiah 6:5, Ps 51:1-9, Luke 5:8). Sinful acts have their origin in a corrupt heart (Gen. 6:5, Isaiah 29:13, Jeremiah. 17:9).
For Paul, sin is not just a conscious transgression of the law but a debilitating ongoing state of enmity with God. In Paul’s theology, sin almost becomes personalized. It can be thought of as malignant, personal power which holds humanity in its grasp.
The Biblical witness also affirms that sin is universal. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans3:23. There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins, Eccles. 7:20. Who can say, I have kept my heart pure; I am clean without sin, Proverbs. 20:9 They have all gone astray...They are all corrupt; there is none that does good, no, not one, Psalm 14:3.
In reformed theology, the core of sin is unbelief. This has firm biblical support: in Genesis 3 where Adam and Eve trust the word of the serpent over the word of God; in the Gospels where Jesus is rejected by the leaders of the Jews; In acts 7 where Stephen is martyred at the hands of an unruly crowd; in John 20:24-25 where Thomas arrogantly dismisses the resurrection of Jesus.
Hardness of heart, which is closely related to unbelief (Mark 16:14, Romans. 2:5), likewise belongs to the essence of sin. It means refusing to repent and believe in the promises of God (Ps 95:8, Hebrews. 3:8&15, 4:7). It connotes both stubborn unwillingness to open ourselves to the love of God (IIChron. 36:13, Ephesians. 4:18) and its corollary- insensitivity to the needs of our neighbor (Deut. 15:7, Ephesians. 4:19).
Whereas the essence of sin is unbelief or hardness of heart, the chief manifestations of sin are pride, sensuality, and fear. Other significant aspects of sin are self-pity, selfishness, jealousy and greed.
The effects of sin are moral and spiritual bondage to guilt, death, and hell. James explained: Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then when desire has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings froth death (James 1:14-15). In Paul’s view, The wages of sin is death, (Romans6:23, 1 Corinthians. 15:56)."
Concerning the Pardon.
First, we must understand, that man, because of the effects of sin is separated from God. Because of sin man cannot enter the presence of the holy God in whom no sin dwells. When Adam and Eve sinned they where cast out of the garden of Eden, the place where they had communion with God, the place where they dwelt with God. The First sin caused exile, not only in this life, also in the life to come.
Physical separation from God is not the only consequence of sin. Death came into the world through man’s sin against God. Adam was created in God’s image, he would have lived forever had he not sinned, however we read the tragic word...Adam lived 930 years, then he died (Gen. 5:5). Physical death came through Adam and Eve’s sin, as well as spiritual death. The book of Revelation talks of this second death on four occasions, 2:11, 20:6&14, 21:8. ’It is defined as the ’lake of fire’ into which are placed at the very end of God’s judgment all those not found in God’s book of life..."
To understand the pardon we must come to understand the true work of salvation. Salvation is not a one time act in one’s life, it is an ongoing process that is made up of regeneration, justification, and sanctification.
"Biblical Definition of Salvation.
1. Regeneration. The first process of salvation is when Jesus renews a person, (that is the mind, body and spirit). It is the giving of life where death once reigned. To bring into existence again. (The act when the Holy Spirit breathes in us the breath of eternal life). Jeremiah 31:33, 1 Peter 2:10
2. Justification. This process is when God decrees that by your faith in Jesus Christ that you are righteous. It is the act of God in which we are freed from all guilt and blame of sin, past present and future. Romans 3:20-22, Luke 18:13-14
3. Sanctification. This being a two fold process: First, it is an act in which God sets us apart as His own Possession. Second, it is the process in which the Holy Spirit purifies us. This process is preparing us to be fit vessels in the kingdom of God, and is preparing us to inhabit the kingdom of God. Ephesians 4:31, 1 Peter 2:1-3, Galatians 5:16-26"
This process of salvation, being made alive, being declared righteous and being set apart is much to rejoice about. When we deserved God’s full condemnation and wrath for our sin, He sent his son into the world... "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came in Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24 "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
There was a story once told while I attended Zion Bible Institute by a preacher in which I have no remembrance of, only his story. There was once an operator of a train draw bridge who had the duties of raising and lowering the bridge. Generally the bridge would remain up due to the heavy traffic on the sea way. The man had a young son who often accompanied his father to work. The father would go about his duties while the son would go about and play. On this particular day, it came time for the 9 am train, the father looked about for his son and could not find him. He searched around the small office, and then he say his son, stuck in the track. To leave the control room to rescue his son would have been the lives of hundreds of passengers on the train. To lower the bridge would have caused the certain death of his son. As the train approached, the whistles blowing, the man released the lever to lower the bridge, and turned his head away as the bridge lowered. The passengers not knowing what had just happened crossed the bridge safely while many of them waved to the man, not knowing that his son’s life was just given for theirs.
There was a heavenly Father who also turned his head when his son hung on the cross and took upon himself the sin of the world.
II. Concerning the Character of those whose sins are pardoned.
Blessed is the man. The man or woman who finds this favor with God is greatly blessed. "To be blessed: Esher (Hebrew), happiness, how happy."
Countless numbers of people go through life seeking true happiness and contentment. People look to religion, financial security, materialistic gain, prestige, sex. However, all of these (and many others) might fill a temporary void, but they leave you wanting more.
"If lasting happiness could be found in having material things and being able to indulge ourselves in whatever we wanted, then most of us in America should be delirious with joy and happy beyond description. We should be producing books and poems that describe our state of unparalleled bliss. Our literature and art should rival that of the ancient Greeks and Romans and Renaissance craftsmen.
Instead we find those who have "things" trying to get more of them, for no apparent reason other than to have more. We find high rates of divorce, suicide, depression, child abuse, and other personal and social problems beyond description. We find housewives trading tranquilizer prescriptions. All this is surely proof that happiness is not found in the state of having all we want and being able to get more."
According to the bible and this Psalm, happiness comes from finding favor with God, and note having your sins counted against you.
III. Concerning the uncomfortable condition of the unhumbled sinner.
Have you ever taken notice of how much unrest and lack of peace an unrepentant person has? David describes this here. And from the experiences that he had may have been best able to explain this. I would imagine that David went through a tremendous time of guilt, unrest when he tried to hide his sin with Bethshebia. What gut wrenching turmoil.
I have stated on many occasions that there is nothing more miserable than a Christian that is not right with God. There is nothing more sad than watching a child of God who is trying to hide there sin. David says it like this... ’your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.’
"Let such expect that their smothered convictions will be a fire in their bones, and the wounds of sin, not opened, will fester, and grow intolerably painful."
Un-confessed sin is like a cancer that will eat away at the heart and conscience of the believer. Either you can yield to its torment, or you can turn and acknowledge your sin and seek forgiveness.
There was a time during my Zion experience when I was just miserable. I was not happy with this ministry preparation thing, I just wanted out. I decided that I was going to go home, get a job and do what I could to help out around the church. Then I had a hearth to heart with Father. The Holy Spirit reminded me first of Jonah and that it did not matter where I went, I could not escape God and his plan for my life. Then these stinging words rang through my mind..."You think that your miserable now, go home and you will really be miserable."
The child of God who has un-confessed sin and is living outside of His will can never know peace of mind or conscience. Misery will mark the way.
IV. Concerning the true and only way to peace of Conscience.
Then I acknowledge my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. "We must confess sin with shame and holy blushing, with fear and holy trembling." Only until a Christian or otherwise will do so, they will never know peace of conscience.
I once heard a story about Howard Hughes. At one time he was one of America’s richest men. His life was devoted to gaining wealth, however the more wealth he gained, the more he couldn’t sleep, and the less food he was able to hold in. His health had gone to the point in which he all he could hold down was milk and crackers. He wasn’t expected to live for much longer until a wonderful thing happened. He met Jesus. Suddenly, he knew a peace of conscience and a great contentedness that he never knew with all of his money. It wasn’t long before his health greatly improved and he was sleeping peacefully through the night. Jesus was his only hope.
How many testimonies have we heard from those who could find no peace or a good night’s sleep until they bowed at the cross of Jesus to repent of their sin.
Jesus said; "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
If you are looking for rest of soul, turn to Jesus in repentance.
V. Concerning God’s readiness to Pardon sin.
I said I will confess my transgression to the Lord- and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
In my experience (whatever that is worth), I have seen that many people Christians never experience the true pardon of God. At some point in time they buy into the lie that there sin was so great that God could never forgive them. So many a believer feel that they have blown it and committed the unpardonable sin.
"The meaning of this sin in Christian thought is best viewed as total and persistent denial of the presence of God in Christ. It reflects a complete recalcitrance of the heart. Rather than a particular act, it is a disposition of the will. This sin is committed when a man recognizes the mission of Jesus by the Holy Spirit but defies and resists and curses it. The saying shows the seriousness of the situation. It is the last time... in which the Lordship of God breaks in.
Having said all of this, however two cautions must be sounded especially when we recall the serious pastoral problems that derive from this teaching. First, this is in no way should come in way of the full implications of the grace of God in Christ. The unpardonable sin refers to complete apostasy (Calvin). If one seeks God’s grace he cab be assured he will find it (1 John 2:1). It is interesting that in Luke 12 the saying is immediately followed by another Spirit text bringing reassurance (verses 11-12). Second, this sin does not refer to a particular act for which one may later feel regret, but instead describes a blatant hostility to God and serious rejection of Jesus after one has been exposed to the knowledge of the truth. This corrective should help avoid many traumatic problems so frequent among Christians and reassurance that God’s forgiveness is free and gracious to all who come to him with a contrite heart."
Christians must always remember the promise of 1 John 1:9... :If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
