Forgiveness

This morning we will be looking at Psalm 32. Psalm 32, a psalm of David was originally written as a song in which many believe was to be sung on the Day of Atonement, (the day in which all Israel would gather for the sacrifice of sin).

As David pens this psalm, he is instructing the readers of the true nature of blessedness. Since Adam and Eve’s fall in the Garden of Eden, man has sought after true happiness. Since the fall in the garden man has sought find acceptance before God. David undertakes the task to show that true happiness comes from finding favor with God.

So often in life we really forget what is important. Is there anything more important than having your transgressions forgiven, and not having your sin counted against you? There have come times in my life when all of the circumstances have clouded my thinking and I begin to dwell on the who’s, what’s, where’s, and I would begin to major on the minor issues of life.

There was one day in particular in which I felt as if I had just blown it so bad that there was no hope. Sinking in self pity and despair, the Holy Spirit nudged my heart and prompted me to read this psalm. As I began to read these words... "Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him, and in whose spirit there is no deceit." As I read these words my heart melted and I knew that the only thing in life that really mattered was that I am accepted by God.

There are those hear today who can relate, you have miserably failed and you wonder how God can ever for give you, accept you, use you. As we look at Psalm 32 today, allow the Holy Spirit to melt away the hurt, the disappointments of life, the past failures, the heart hardened by sin. Allow the Holy Spirit to show you and remind you of the most important matters of life, to be forgiven and accepted by God.

This morning we will break down Psalm 32 in two parts. Verses 1-6 we will consider the true blessing and comfort in which we receive from union with God. In particular we will consider six points of interest.

"1. Concerning the nature of the pardon of sin.

2. Concerning the character of those who sins are pardoned.

3. Concerning the uncomfortable condition of the unrepentant.

4. Concerning the true and only was to peace of conscience.

5. Concerning God’s readiness to pardon sin."

Verses 7-11 we will consider David’s experience that he had concerning the comfort of pardoning mercy.

"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. 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 sapped as in the heat of the summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgression to the Lord- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him." Psalm 32:1-6

I. Concerning the nature and the pardon of sin.

Psalm 32:1-2

The Biblical Understanding of Sin.

"In the biblical perspective, sin is not only the act of wrongdoing but the state of alienation from God. For the great prophets of Israel, sin is much more than the violation of a taboo or the transgression of an external ordinance. It signifies the rupture of a personal relationship with God, a betrayal of the trust He places in us.

We become most aware of our sinfulness in the presence of the holy God (cf. Isaiah 6:5, Ps 51:1-9, Luke 5:8). Sinful acts have their origin in a corrupt heart (Gen. 6:5, Isaiah 29:13, Jeremiah. 17:9).

For Paul, sin is not just a conscious transgression of the law but a debilitating ongoing state of enmity with God. In Paul’s theology, sin almost becomes personalized. It can be thought of as malignant, personal power which holds humanity in its grasp.

The Biblical witness also affirms that sin is universal. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans3:23. There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins, Eccles. 7:20. Who can say, I have kept my heart pure; I am clean without sin, Proverbs. 20:9 They have all gone astray...They are all corrupt; there is none that does good, no, not one, Psalm 14:3.