“The Blessing of Forgiveness”
An exploration of Psalm 32
Introduction
The last time I was with you, we explored Paul’s string of specific blessings that should inspire us to bless Him every time we think about them. He called the believers who gathered in Ephesus to bless the Lord who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ. One of the blessings we explored was the blessing of full forgiveness in Jesus. The marvel of this much desirable act of Holy Deity on behalf of sinful humanity stands as a major foundation stone of our salvation.
Since we are in the middle of the season of Lent where believers are challenged to contemplate the sin that strains communion with God and sent Jesus to the cross, it would be appropriate to further explore the forgiving nature of God from the perspective of one intimately acquainted with the blessing of forgiveness; King David.
Historians traditionally identify two Psalms which poetically express David’s response to his sins associated with his adultery with Bathsheba.
Psalm 32 is the first of 13 maschil psalms. This word "maschil" is derived from a verb meaning "to be prudent; to be wise." It means "a contemplative song, a song imparting moral wisdom or instruction." It is a song that gives instruction. Mattoon's Treasures
Most agree that David composed Psalm 51 shortly after confrontation by the prophet Nathan and Psalm 32 at a time further down the road. In that Psalm (51:13), David vowed to teach sinners the ways of God.
Perhaps Psalm 32 represents his effort to keep that promise. Jews recited this Psalm annually at the Day of Atonement celebration.
The beauty of Hebrew poetry is the way it artfully expresses and inspires deep emotion. There are numerous ways to mine this mine full of golden nuggets of truth. My plan is to track David’s specific action through the Psalm and suggest seven gold nuggets of truth from this rich gold mine followed by a suggested setting for those gold nuggets in our life.
I. David celebrated the blessing of forgiveness. 32:1-2
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Hebrew poetry rhymes thought rather than words. It expresses a thought in one line followed by a second line and even a third that expresses the same basic thought in different words. It creatively elicits a fuller grasp of the truth.
In the first two verses David uses four lines to express his basic thought.
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven.
Blessed is the one whose sin is covered.
Blessed it the one against who the LORD counts no iniquity.
Blessed is the one in whose spirit is no deceit.
The basic thought common to each line has to do with the sense of well being that comes from the realization of God’s forgiveness. Anyone who has experienced forgiveness by anyone is familiar with the feeling. David centered his thought to forgiveness by Yahweh by verse two. He utilized four terms to describe the sin side of the equation.
“transgression”
The word indicates a breach of relationship between two parties, an act of rebellion, revolt, a going beyond established boundaries, trespass.
“sin”
The verb is found 580 times in the Old Testament and the noun 290 times communicating the idea of a failure to hit a mark, an act of turning away from obedience.
“Iniquity”
This term appears 231 times and means to bend or twist, distort or pervert.
“Deceit”
This describes the act of deceiving, defrauding, misleading, lying.
Until we fully understand the gravity of our own sin against God, we will never fully appreciate the greatness of God’s willingness to forgive that sin.
Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:47
A substantial variety of terms describing man’s failure to live according to God’s standard fill the pages of Scripture. The core of all sin involves a deliberate decision to disobey God. We can either disregard what He prescribes or practice what He prohibits. Many categorize them as sins of omission and sins of commission.
Both involve deliberately disobeying God. The choice to disobey God then branches out into a variety of specific sins. We first disassociate from Him (sin), and then we behave displeasing to Him (sins).
David employed four terms related to God’s action.
“forgiven”
This term appears nearly 600 times in the Old Testament with a basic meaning to lift up, bear, carry, take away. It is what God does in relation to our sin.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11-12
It is God’s very nature to forgive.
The LORD passed before him (Moses) and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6-7
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old. Micah 7:18-20
“covered”
This term means to cover, conceal or hide, blot out. David used it as a parallel thought to forgiveness.
“not counted”
This term means to think or consider, plan, impute, calculate, make a judgment. David’s used the term in regard to making a judgment or a calculation not to hold us liable for our sin.
He used an imperfect tense verb.
Imperfect "tense" depicts continuing action: repeated/ongoing in present or past time, or yet future. The context determines the time frame(s).
Here David extols the blessing of God’s calculated decision to not impute sin from our past, present or future.
Paul used a parallel Greek term.
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Cor 5:18-19
He quoted this Psalm in Romans 4:7-8. He expanded on the concept of imputed sin of Adam and contrasts it to the imputed righteousness of Christ in chapter 5.
“clear conscience”
This involves and absence of fraud or deceit in the soul. David considered it a blessing to experience a clear conscience because of forgiveness. There is not greater blessing than to be free from guilt not because we are perfect but because someone has dispelled our guilt through forgiveness.
Everyone knows the feeling of relief when someone forgives us, or we have resoved an offense.
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:2-5
An old hymn describes the wonder of what David sought to express.
Nothing between my soul and my Savior,
naught of this world’s delusive dream;
I have renounced all sinful pleasure;
Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.
Nothing between my soul and my Savior,
so that his blessed face may be seen;
nothing preventing the least of his favor;
keep the way clear! Let nothing between.
Golden Nugget #1
Contemplating the wonder of God’s forgiveness of our sin inspires a sense of well-being.
The opposite is true when we try to cover our sin.
II. David recalled the consequences of hiding sin. 32:3-4
For 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 dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
Selah was a performance note calling for a pause in the music for contemplation. David urged a time for reflection about how miserable for us to cover sin. From the narrative exposing David’s sin with Bathsheba we can discern a timeline. The prophet Nathan confronted David shortly before the birth of the baby. That indicates that David tried to keep his sin covered for nearly nine months. Here he recalls how his coverup affected his whole being. Another of David’s songs expanded on the consequence of hiding sin. Whether this is directly related to the Bathsheba thing is uncertain but probable.
O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me. There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart. O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you. My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me. My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off.
For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me. I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. Psalm 38:1-11,17-18
Guilt is a ruthless taskmaster. Medical studies track multiple physical maladies and diseases to guilt. In addition to that, many psychological malfunctions trace their root to guilt. Forgiveness is a blessing because it relieves guilt and restores health.
Golden Nugget #2 - Harboring sin brings devastating misery.
III. David shared his own confession of sin. 32:5
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
David used three important terms in relation to confession and forgiveness.
“Acknowledge”
This term occurs extensively throughout the Old Testament meaning to know something. In this case, David made his sin known to God. Of course, God knew all ready, but David openly acknowledged the sinfulness of his actions.
“did not cover”
This is a parallel concept to acknowledge. David uncovered the hidden sin. This is the opposite of when he hid his sin above.
“Confess”
This term comes from the same root as the word to know. It indicates an open confession of any truth.
In this case his sin.
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Psalm 51:3-4
As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against you!” Psalm 41:4
Confession leads to forgiveness.
YOU FORGAVE THE INIQUITY OF MY SIN! SELAH.
Another appropriate moment to pause and reflect.
The New Testament encourages confession of sin not only to God but each other.
Sin propagates in the dark but perishes in the light.
If we say we have no sin(over our sin), we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9
The word confess here means “to say the same thing.” It involves agreeing with God concerning the guilt and gravity of our sin. James 5:16 encourages followers of Jesus to practice this with each other.
Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
Nugget #3 - Confessing sin leads to delightful forgiveness and healing.
IV. David encouraged prayer in troubled times. 32:6-7
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. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
Our trouble may come from our refusal to properly address our sin or from life in a broken world, but the remedy is the same; regular conversation with God. Rather than hide our sin from God, God hides us from sin when we cultivate regular conversation with Him. David pictured a prayer meeting in a ragging sea of trouble surrounded by an army of angels sounding us with shouts of victory. Selah! Another appropriate pause for reflection.
Nugget #4 - God is a secure hiding place in times of trouble.
V. David warned against resisting God. 32:8-9
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.
Sin is a horrible separator.
Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2
Jesus reconciled us to God through His work on the cross. We are no longer enemies. Satan attempts to get us to make ourselves enemies by our sin. He convinces us that we can no longer draw near. Coming near is our only chance to overcome the sin that so easily trips us up.
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6
David urged his audience to drawn near, Hebrews does the same.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Nugget #5 - Confidently draw near to God always.
VI. David affirmed God’s lovingkindness. 32:10
Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.
Put another way, sorrow surrounds the wicked but steadfast love surrounds the trusting. There is no greater need for the assurance of God’s love than when we become fully aware of the gravity of our sin. It is not a coincidence that one of the most powerful assurances of God’s grip of love in Romans 8 follows one of the most grueling realities of sin’s grip in Romans 7.
Paul concluded chapter seven with:
For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Romans 7:22-24
Paul concluded chapter eight with:
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Such affirmation should encourage regular invitations for God to root out sin in our life.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:23-24
Nugget #6 - God’s lovingkindness surrounds those who trust in Him.
VII. David urged a joyful response to the God of forgiveness. 32:11
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Having gripped the gravity of our sin and the glory of God’s forgiveness, there is only one thing left to do. Celebrate!
Notice the parallels!
Be glad in the LORD! Rejoice! Shout for joy!
The source of such exaltation is IN the Lord.
Notice the designations!
Not you rotten sinners or you wretched people.
O righteous – You are forgiven.
You upright in heart – You are forgiven, covered, not guilty, pure in heart.
Nugget #7 - Openly celebrate your joy in the Lord.
Let’s put these golden nuggets in an appropriate setting (application).
#1 Forgiveness inspires well-being.
Take some time to reflect on the wonder of God’s forgiveness.
#2 Harboring sin brings devastating misery.
Open up to thorough inspection by the Holy Spirit. Be willing to have Him point out any sins you have tried to keep hidden.
#3 Confessing sin leads to delightful forgiveness.
Verbalize whatever areas God digs out of the closet. Agree with Him as to the gravity of that sin and receive His forgiveness.
#4 God is a safe hiding place in a time of trouble.
Realize you are not alone. You can find refuge in Him.
#5 Confidently draw near to God always.
#6 God’s lovingkindness surrounds those who trust in Him.
Trust Him. Rest in His love.
Paul prayed that the Ephesian believers would know the depth of His love.
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Eph 3:17-19
#7 Openly celebrate your joy in the Lord.
Be glad IN the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
