Psalm 32: The Blessing of Forgiveness

Darin Vogt

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Psalm 32

Repentance

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Unconfessed sin weighs us down

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The Guilt of Unconfessed Sin Absolutely Crushes Us.

Question: What do you do when you sin? Take a moment and think about it. When you sin, and we know we all sin, what do you do?

Early this week, I came across this quote in a devotional I read:

“Parents often love their children so deeply that they overlook their failings. Righteousness should maintain its proper authority over wishful thinking and ungoverned emotions—in both kingdoms and households.”[1]

Oswald Chambers writes: “Our Lord never insists upon obedience; He tells us very emphatically what we ought to do, but He never takes means to make us do it. We have to obey Him out of oneness of spirit.”

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year (Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering, 1986).

God leads us as a Shepherd = He invites us to learn His voice and follow Him.

God does not drive us as a rancher = He does not force us to obey against our will!

HOWEVER...

Our God, our heavenly Father, is righteous and utterly holy and ALWAYS handles sin in a righteous manner. Just look at a few verses:

1. = So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

2. = And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

3. = And he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.

4. = On that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

5. = Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

In summary: God, in His righteousness, cannot and will not let sin go unpunished. A day is coming for each man in which he will give an account for his actions and receive the proper penalty. GOD WILL JUDGE OUR SIN.

But what do we do when we sin?

Here are a few options that many undertake:

1. DO NOTHING: Move one without addressing it

2. GO HIDE: Run-away and change churches, jobs, communities, and spouses to avoid guilt.

3. PAY FOR IT: Do enough self-imposed penance (good things) until you feel good again.

4. FAKE REPENTANCE: Remove that which is easily removed and unrelated to your sin

5. LIE TO GOD: Beg God continuously for forgiveness while continuing in the same sin.

6. EXILE YOURSELF FROM GOD: Fail to seek God until you think you should

All of these approaches are unbiblical and man-centered.

What I mean is this, God is not the focus.

God’s thoughts and instruction do not matter; rather, our assessment of our feelings and actions forms the foundation for how we handle our sin. You determine how you feel, what you think is wrong, and how to fix it.

This, at its core, is religion divorced from God. Sadly, the “norm” in present-day Christianity is that we deal with our sin in our own way and independently from God.

Often, we allow our preferences matter more than God’s instruction.

This is NOT the example the Bible provides.

Outline of

Psalm 32 ESV

A Maskil of David. 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. 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 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 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 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. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

When we outline this passage, we see five things that David understands about repentance:

1. When sin is forgiven, the Bible considers the one forgiven is blessed. (vs. 1-2)

When sin is forgiven, the Bible considers the one forgiven is blessed. (vs. 1-2)

2. Silence about concealed and hidden sin crushes us because God presses down on us. (vs. 3-4)

3. When we openly bring our sin to God—God lovingly removes it (vs. 5)

4. When we come to God, nothing can shake us from God (vs. 6-7)

5. Our sin is public, so our repentance to and praise of God should be public (vs. 8-10)

6. God’s forgiving work produces joy within us (vs. 11)

A little background about

1. It is one of the 7 penitential Psalms in the Bible (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143)

2. It has in view David’s sin with Bathsheba

3. It is quoted by Paul in

4. Martin Luther called it one of the Pauline Psalms because it presents salvation apart from our works.

Summary Statement: is a brilliant example of a man coming to God with his sin, and praising the Lord because God did what he could not.

Forgiveness from sin and fellowship with the Lord produces JOY

An interesting three-fold dynamic shows the work of God:

David = Transgressed, Sinned, and was mired in Iniquity

Transgression = Rebellion (to be in the wrong place)

Sin = To miss the mark (do wrong)

Iniquity = To be twisted/crooked (to be wrong in nature)

God = Forgave, Covered, and did not Impute David’s wickedness against him

Forgive = To lift and carry away (To bring back)

Cover = To conceal or hide from sight (To wipe away)

Impute = To credit to one’s account (To not add up one’s sin)

Q: How can David sin and be considered righteous? Understanding this is the basis of our joy.

Within humanity, godliness does not equal sinlessness or perfection.

· Godliness = Reverence for God and a life of holiness in the world.[2]

· Perfection/Sinlessness = In Scripture essential perfection belongs to God alone. Jesus assumes that the “heavenly Father is perfect” ().

If we could live in a perfect manner, a sinless manner, what need of Christ would we have? What good would he be if we could attain his perfection independently from Him?

J. C. Philpot states: “He has designed that all whom he has chosen unto salvation should reach the heavenly shore; that none should suffer shipwreck by the way; that sin should not be their ruin; that Satan should not succeed in any of his devices against their eternal safety; but that every member of the mystical body of Christ should be forever which their glorious Head in the realms of bliss, to behold and to be partakers of the glory which shall be revealed when He comes and all His saints with Him.”[4]

Stated differently: Jesus gave us our righteous perfection by imputing (crediting) it to us, our response is only to walk in it.

Godliness describes our posture more than our perfection:

· Our passion: Our hearts must be after God.

· Our foundation: Our foundation is in God and not ourselves

· Our efforts: Our work is seeking to know and glorify God

· Our response to sin: In our sin we repent.

In summary, godliness denotes the character, attitude, and actions of one who persistently seeks to know, glorify, and enjoy God.

Think of it like this, Oswald Chambers says...

WE ALL SIN, BUT IT IS WHAT WE DO BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER OUR SIN THAT DETERMINES IF WE ARE GODLY

My Utmost for His Highest November 2nd—Authority and Independence

The Lord does not give me rules, He makes His standard very clear, and if my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without any hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone else in competition with Him, viz., myself

My Utmost for His Highest November 2nd—Authority and Independence

Obedience comes from a heart that desires the presence of the Lord; that is, when we strive to know the Lord we will automatically obey—BUT HAPPENS WHEN WE FAIL/SIN?

WE ALL SIN, BUT IT IS WHAT WE DO BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER OUR SIN THAT DETERMINES IF WE ARE GODLY.

Illustration: Two examples from Scripture of godly men and ungodly men:

The men:

King David and King Saul

Peter and Judas

All four sinned

· King Saul refused to destroy what God said destroy, and he offered sacrifices in an unacceptable manner

· King David had an affair and murdered Uriah

· Judas betrayed Jesus

· Peter denied he was a disciple of Jesus

Post-Sin:

· David and Peter repented—after being confronted with their sin.

· Saul and Judas attempted to fix themselves and both took their own life rather than repenting.

The main difference? REPENTANCE

Repentance towards Christ allows us to find forgiveness in Christ!

Forgiveness is free, but it is not cheap.

It is a blessing to be forgiven (vs. 1-2)

We are enlivened through forgiveness (vs. 4)

We are liberated through forgiveness (vs. 5)

We are secured through forgiveness (vs.6-7)

We are emboldened to glorify God through forgiveness (vs. 8-9)

We are loved through forgiveness (vs. 10)

We are made righteous through forgiveness (vs. 11)

We are made joyful and glad through forgiveness (vs. 11)

But the blessing of forgiveness was secured at an extremely high cost!

Jesus lived obediently in our place

Jesus lived modestly and sacrificially in our place

Jesus suffered in our place

Jesus experienced affliction and rejection in our place

Jesus died in our place

When we fail to repent, we experience severe personal consequences…

Unconfessed sin produces guilt that yields to God’s heavy hand on us

We should ALWAYS pursue God and seek to examine ourselves—not to know our pleasures but to know our rebellious desires. Why?

· Sin is foul and odorous to God—we must grasp this.

· Sin is a departure from God

· Sin brings God’s heavy hand of discipline on our life (vs. 3)

· Sin brings condemnation (the reverse of )

· Sin brings death to us!

All of this should lead us to this thought:

THERE ARE NO SMALL SINS IN GOD’S EYES SINCE ALL SIN IS A DEPARTURE FROM HIM!

What do we do?

Spurgeon said… “GET YOUR SIN HID.”

“A backslider, if there be a spark of life left in him will groan after restoration.”[5]

“Remember, David when he felt himself to be powerless, did not fold his arms or close his lips, but he hastened to the mercy-seat with “renew a right spirit within me.” Let not the doctrine that you, unaided, can do nothing, make you sleep; but let it be a goad in your side to drive you with an awful earnestness to Israel’s strong Helper.”[6]

How do we hide our sin? Do the exact opposite of what you think…

We must own up to our desire, decision, and responsibility in sinning

How do I Get rid of my sin?

· Repent towards the Lord

· Renew your focus on and understanding of God’s instruction

· Reside in the presence of the Lord

True Repentance Means:

· We acknowledge God’s perspective of our actions and the truth of His word

· We acknowledge our sins

· We cease from sin and turn towards fellowship with the Lord

Spurgeon said:

“O that you may have grace to plead with God, as though you pleaded for your very life—“Lord, renew a right spirit within me.” He who sincerely prays to God to do this, will prove his honesty by using the means through which God works. Be much in prayer; live much upon the Word of God; kill the lusts which have driven your Lord from you; be careful to watch over the future uprisings of sin.” (Charles Spurgeon)

How do I respond?

· Repent: Confess your sins to God, ask him to allow to enjoy his presence, and rely upon his strength to cease and turn from your sin!

Prayer is the link that joins us to God in fellowship.

Jesus paid the price for us to approach Him

The Holy Spirit regenerates us so we can approach Him

The Father issues a call that we would approach Him.

IT US UP TO US TO APPROACH HIM!

· Rejoice: Look the Lord and praise Him for his love, mercy, patience, and tender care!

Instead of doubting, praise God for the security we have in Him and exalt His name.

· Repeat: Never grow weary of turning to Him daily.

We cannot treat salvation like a car title or a deed—we don’t “GET SAVED” and never think about it again.

Instead, we go to God every day of our life; for, this is our great privilege in Christ.

True Christianity resembles a marriage not a business relationship. If you interact with God as often as we do our bankers we have a problem!

[1] John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).

[2] J. Knox Chamblin, “Godly, Godliness,” Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996), 300.

[3] Robert W. Yarbrough, “Perfect, Perfection,” Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996), 598.

[4] J. C. Philpot, Ears from Harvested Sheaves, Or, Daily Portions (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).

[5] C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896).

[6] C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896).

[7] C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Daily Readings (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896).

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