Grasping the Gift


Psalm 32
A Maskil [probably a musical or liturgical setting] of David.
1Blessed 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.
3For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
5I 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
6Therefore 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.
7You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
8I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.
10Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
11Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalm 32 is one of the traditional seven penitential psalms. It is one of the clearest statements of the doctrines of repentance, justification, and forgiveness in the Old Testament. I’ll confess it. Sometimes I weary of the same message over and over. Repent and be forgiven – seems like rather old and tired advice. But it’s not. We have to be reminded on a constant basis of the great forgiveness and love of God. Those who grow lax in their hold on this truth grow weary and their faith grows faint.

David had a goal with this Psalm that goes beyond speaking with God about his own sin. He clearly desires to teach those who read/study/worship with these word the wisdom of sincere repentance. The discipline of intentional self-examination and confession cannot be over used; and I might go so far as to say it is woefully under used today as we hurry through our days. To confess before an all-powerful God, who alone has the right to grant our forgiveness is a worthy exercise. We are seeking what we need the most – justification when we do not deserve it. Forgiveness is based on a verdict of God, not on a human act or achievement. Justification, or forgiveness of sins, means that God, the righteous judge, has declared our sins forgiven because Christ has paid for them. Forgiveness of sins is not something we achieve by something we do, but it is a verdict of God based on Christ’s work.

I love David’s ending for this Psalm. He takes a few sentences to encourage those who come in humble repentance before the Lord, reassuring us that God is faithful and has indeed provided that which we need the most – His forgiveness. If you take the time to read through this Psalm several times, you will begin to find a peace that can only come from the knowledge that God has graciously provided exactly what you need the most through the blood of Jesus. Take this reminder of your forgiveness to heart and be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

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