Blessed are the Forgiven (Psalms 32)
Walk through the Word 2023 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Biblical Timeline
United Kingdom under the Kings of Saul, David, and Solomon
During the time of David being king, the promise land was expanded and Jerusalem was made the capital. The Tabernacle was established in Jerusalem.
David’s Sin and confrontation (2 Samuel 11-12; Psalms 51)
Understand the gravity and seriousness of our sin.
Sin is a serious issue and is not to be taken lightly.
Sin can’t be dealt with by hiding it.
When confronted with our sin, we need to humbly confess and repent of that sin.
We should never try to justify our sin.
When confronted, we need to confess our sins.
We can trust in the love and mercy of God to forgive and restore us.
When we humbly confess our sins before the Lord, we have confidence that He will forgive, cleanse, and restore us.
This is the great hope of the Gospel, God will forgive and restore us through Jesus.
Blessed results of being forgiven (Psalm 32)
David also wrote Psalms dealing with the Joy of being forgiven along with the Psalms of lament.
Psalms 32 is a thanksgiving Psalm of David expressing the Joy of being forgiven.
Blessed are the Forgiven (1-2)
Blessed are the Forgiven (1-2)
Psalm 32:1–2 (ESV)
1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Blessed - Word and text.
blessed adj. — characterized by happiness and being highly favored (as by divine grace). (Biblical Sense) (Ps 1:1; 32:1; 119:1–2; Pr 14:21; 16:20; 20:7; 28:14)
Psalm 1:1–2 (ESV)
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Proverbs 14:21 (ESV)
21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
Jesus used this same concept in the Beatitudes. (Matt 5:2-12)
Matthew 5:3 (ESV)
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed - Application
Blessed because we meet the characteristics described by the context. We do not work to be blessed this way, but are blessed or happy when these this happen or we are like.
Condition - Forgiven; Psalms 32.1“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”
Forgiven - to be forgiven ⇔ lifted up v., to be forgiven, conceived of as being lifted up (or perhaps being removed). (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
Covered - to be forgiven ⇔ be covered v., to be forgiven (of wrongs), conceived of as being covered over. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
Justification - Justification is a Christian’s judicial acceptance by God as not guilty because his sins are not counted against him. (Lane, Tony. “Justification.” Lexham Survey of Theology. Ed. Mark Ward et al. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018. Print.)
Condition - Righteous; Ps32.2 “Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”
Count no Iniquity
Count - to consider (reckon) v., to deem or reckon to be. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
Iniquity - guilt n., the state of having committed an offense. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
No deceit - deception n., a misleading falsehood (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
Sanctification - Sanctification is the ongoing supernatural work of God to rescue justified sinners from the disease of sin and to conform them to the image of his Son: holy, Christlike, and empowered to do good works. (Calhoun, Susanne. “Sanctification.” Lexham Survey of Theology. Ed. Mark Ward et al. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018. Print.)
David is not saying that we should sin so that we will feel blessed when we are forgiven. He is saying that the person forgiven for their sins will feel blessed.
The weight of unconfessed sin and the freedom of forgiveness (3-7)
The weight of unconfessed sin and the freedom of forgiveness (3-7)
Unconfessed Sin (3-4)
Psalm 32:3–4 (ESV)
3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
Keep Silent (3a)
Lack of confession of sin. This could be through justifying or hiding it.
Even if we are successful in hiding our sin the effect to sin is still upon us. It will effect us and our relationships (God and others).
Physical effect of unconfessed sin (3b)
Psalm 31:9–10 (ESV)
9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.
When we are hiding or justifying our sin there is an effect in a way that “sin brings death”, we are dealing inwardly with guilt, shame, fear, etc, and we are affected with how we relate to others.
Spiritual effect of unconfessed sin (4)
When we are hiding our sin from others, the Lord knows.
Conviction from the Lord.
“your hand was heavy upon me"
to be convicted (state) v. — to be or become proven or shown to be guilty. (Biblical Sense)
Confessed Sin (5-6)
Psalm 32:5–6 (ESV)
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
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.
Personal forgiveness (5)
When David acknowledged his sin to the Lord, God was faithful to forgive him.
Same with us, When we humble ourselves before the Lord about our sin, He is faithful to forgive us. God is faithful to forgive us, but will work in us to bring about a change that will cause us to live righteously. He will forgive and refuse to leave us in our sin.
David is addressing the connection between being forgiven and the changed life in this Psalm.
Call for others to be forgiven (6)
“The psalmist encourages those who are faithful to Yahweh to seek the same relief he experienced by praying for forgiveness.” (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)
Psalm 51:13 (ESV)
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
Freedom in forgiveness (7)
Psalm 32:7 (ESV)
7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
David is saying that they is great safety and strength in the presence of God. When we confess our sins and God forgives us, are in safety through our relationship with God.
Psalm 27:5 (ESV)
5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.
Encouragement to be humble. (8-9)
Encouragement to be humble. (8-9)
Lord instructs (8)
Psalm 32:8 (ESV)
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
“In these verses, Yahweh replaces the psalmist as speaker. … Yahweh states He will instruct and teach the people. He encourages them to accept His instruction, and discourages them from being like a stubborn animal that must be controlled with a bridle.” (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)
David as talking about the instructions of the Lord found in the Torah and biblical literature. We have the full revelation of God in the Bible.
Remain humble (9)
Psalm 32:9 (ESV)
9 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.
Understanding - “The Hebrew word used here, bin, meaning “to discern,” describes the ability to distinguish between right and wrong.” (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)
When we want to get a horse to do what we want, we need to force them by use of a bit and bridle. The Lord is instructing us to be humble and discerning what is the right or wrong course of action based on His instruction. Be willing to comply with His instructions.
Blessed are the righteous (10-11)
Blessed are the righteous (10-11)
Contrast the wicked and righteous (10)
Psalm 32:10 (ESV)
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
The Wicked (10a)
wicked - wicked person n., someone who is characterized by wickedness and godlessness. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
Sorrow - grief n., something that causes great unhappiness. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
David is showing that if one remains in their sins and unconfessed sin, instead of being blessed they will be in sorrow.
The Righteous (10b)
Love surrounds
“verb describes the Lord’s covenantal “unfailing love” (hesed) that surrounds those who trust in the victor, “the one who trusts in him.” In the Hebrew text, “the one who trusts in the LORD” is a casus pendens (a pending case), “But as for the one who trusts in the LORD,” making the contrast stronger by putting the person of contrast out front in the clause.” (Bullock, C. Hassell. Psalms 1–72. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2015. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)
Relationship with the Lord
Trust in the Lord
to trust (faith) v., to have a strong confidence or reliance upon someone or something. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
Blessed are the righteous (11)
Psalm 32:11 (ESV)
11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Be Glad and rejoice (11a)
“Joy is the proper response to Yahweh’s faithful love and forgiveness. The psalmist encourages people to be glad and rejoice.” (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)
Be Glad - to rejoice (feeling) v., to feel happiness or joy. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
Similar to the idea used earlier in the Psalm “Blessed”.
Live upright in heart (11b)
Upright - good (moral) adj., of moral excellence (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
heart - heart (internal feature) n., the locus of a person’s thoughts (mind), volition, emotions, and knowledge of right from wrong (conscience) understood as the heart (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)
A person upright it heart is one looking to conduct his life by God’s moral standard. As I understand this psalm, David is saying the being blessed is not only in the event of confession and forgiveness, but in the transformed righteous living.
Lessons from the Psalms
Lessons from the Psalms
Blessed in the one who does not hide his sins, but confesses them.
blessed adj. — characterized by happiness and being highly favored (as by divine grace). (Biblical Sense) (Ps 1:1; 32:1; 119:1–2; Pr 14:21; 16:20; 20:7; 28:14)
We will feel blessed when we confess our sins and experience the Love, Grace, and forgiveness of God.
If we do not confess our sins, we will continue to feel the weight of our sins in our lives and relationships. We will feel the continual conviction of the Lord, who desires righteousness in us.
Blessed is the one who humbles himself under the instructions and protection of the Lord.
The Lord has provided for us instructions and teaching in order to give us clear understanding on what is right and wrong.
We are to be discerning on how to live our righteousness based on the instructions given by the Lord.
When we seek to live out the instructions of the Lord in our daily lives, we will be blessed.
Blessed is the one who seeks to live an upright and righteous life.
Being blessed is not only found in the event of forgiveness, but in a life living in relationship with God and seeking to obey His laws.
We will be blessed when we seek to live righteously in our daily walk and the choices/actions we take.
Benediction
Proverbs 3:5–8 (ESV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.