Psalm 32

Psalm 32 talks about one of the greatest gifts God gives mankind – the forgiveness of sin.  “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered”.  The reality is that all of us are sinners.  Scripture is very clear about that.  And it is also very clear that the price of sin is death.  Not just a bad day – death.  God has a standard that we are going to be held to – complete and total obedience to His law.  I know I’ve already missed that one – not just a little bit – I miss it every day.  So I have a sin problem.  And here’s a news flash – so do you.

So let’s accept the reality that sin is a big problem that needs to be dealt with.  God did create a solution for our sin – He sent His Son to the cross to give us the opportunity to receive Him through the gift of grace and be set free from sin.  Jesus is the answer.  He alone is what scripture talks about here when it says “blessed is the one….whose sin is covered”.  There is no other way to have your sin covered except the shed blood of Christ.  Anything less just won’t cut it when you stand before God on your judgment day.

But forgiveness from God is so much more.  “Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity”.  Human forgiveness doesn’t forget the transgression in most cases.  We might move on, but we don’t forget.  God does.  God “counts no iniquity” even around our sin.  He lets go when we receive His forgiveness.  That is so not a human response.  It all begins with confession.  “I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity” is what the psalmist says.  Forgiveness doesn’t happen unless there is confession.  We have to come to God with admission of our sin.  We have to stop pretending that no one knows – especially God.  He does.  We have to confess to be forgiven.

But along with confession we also need to repent.  That means to turn and go the other way.  The psalmist is clear that God will help us know what to do.  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you”.  God has so much wisdom for us to absorb and follow.  But we have to be teachable.  We have to be willing to seek His face.  We must not be “like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle”.  Stubbornness is not next to godliness.  God wants to help us repent and live in obedience to His will.  But we have to be willing to listen and learn.  And then we need to trust in the Lord and walk in obedience.  God is watching.  “I will counsel you with my eye on you”.  Life matters.  We need to live it God’s way and live it well!