Psalm 32
“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit” (1-2).
Psalm 32 provides us with a glorious affirmation — we can be forgiven. We cannot earn this. We cannot undo what we have done. It is a gift. The testaments are agreed on this. The notion that the Old Testament taught legalistic righteousness is from the Pharisees, not from the Old Testament itself.
But how do we obtain this free gift of forgiveness? On what basis does the author make the glorious affirmation? He makes it on the basis of a free and honest confession of his sin.
“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. 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.” (3-5).
Honesty the best policy
Honesty regarding our sin is the only sane policy. Unconfessed sin is a carcinogen that will eat away at our souls. Sincere confession is the only reliable protection, the only thing that will stop the cancer. It is not that repentance or confession undoes the wrong; but it opens the way for God’s grace to remove the guilt.
So the author offers us some friendly advice.
“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” (6).
God also speaks a word of exhortation.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 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” (8-9).
We are sometimes told not to drink milk while taking tetracycline. Milk somehow blocks the effect the antibiotic is supposed to produce. There is disagreement among the physicians on that point, but there is some evidence to suggest that it is true. But on this point there should be no doubt. Pride blocks the ability of grace to help us (Pr 3:34; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).
“Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. 11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (10-11)
Sorrows will plague the one who clings to his sin — refusing to repent of it, refusing to admit it. The one who trusts in the Lord for deliverance from sin is the only one who escapes those sorrows. So come to the Lord with an upright honest heart. Confess freely and he will freely grant his grace.