Psalm 32:1-11
“The Gift of Forgiveness”
Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV)
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
I. The Blessings of Forgiveness (1-2)
• Blessing = happiness.
• 3 Fold Truth of Forgiveness
1. Transgression is forgiven.
o “Transgression” means rebellion portrays an act of will of clear defiance.
o “Forgiven” literally means to remove a heavy burden.
2. Sin is covered.
o “Sin” means missing the mark, trying to aim for the bull’s eye but missing.
o “Covered” means it is no longer seen.
o Ever since the fall, mankind has been looking to cover his sin. Adam and Eve it was the fig leaves. Under the Levitical law it was the sacrificial animals.
Hebrews 10:10-12 (NASB95)
10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,
3. Iniquity is not imputed.
o “Iniquity” is not only the lawlessness but the guilt associated with it.
o “Not imputed” means it is not counted against us.
• “In whose spirit there is no guile (deceit). That is how God sees us, not for our own righteousness, but through Christ’s righteousness imputed to us.
Romans 4:6 (NASB95)
6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
Romans 8:1 (NASB95)
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
II. The Guilt of Silence (3-4)
• David thought He could just ignore his sin and it would go away.
• What David found was that unconfessed sin can eat away at us not only spiritually, emotionally, and mentally; but physically as well.
Vs. 3
• “My bones waxed old” literally my body wasted away.
o His health and his strength were diminished.
o He felt drained and defeated.
• “My roaring all day long” David cried out in sorrow, but not in confession.
• “Thy hand was heavy upon me.”
o David was able to hide his sin from others, but not from God.
o He was plagued with the weight of a guilty conscious.
o If you are indeed a child of God, and David was no doubt, then sin comes with a heavy burden.
1 Corinthians 11:31-32 (NASB95)
31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.
• That is why we must keep short accounts with God, going to Him daily and asking Him to search us and reveal our sin to us. Judging ourselves before God has to.
o More than just vertical forgiveness we should be seeking; also horizontal.
III. The Freedom of Confession (5-7)
Vs. 5
• It was only after David acknowledged his sin and was no longer hiding it, did God remove not only the sin but the guilt of his sin. (Seems silly thinking we can hide our sins from God.)
1 John 1:9 (NASB95)
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Vs. 6
• “Pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found.”
o This should be done with a sense of urgency.
o Before God pours out his judgment and its too late.
Vs. 7
• “Thou are my hiding place”
o Now because of David’s confession and the forgiveness he received, God now becomes his hiding place, his refuge; rather than his tormentor.
• “Thou shalt preserve me from trouble…”
o God was also now his protector keeping David from trouble.
o Only if he was walking closely with the Lord would he be able to see the escape from temptation that God would provide.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NASB95)
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
IV. The Promise of Trusting (8-11)
Vs. 8
• David now wants to teach others the hard lessons he learned, a promise he had made to God.
o Psalm 51:13
o Importance of teaching others from our mistakes.
Vs. 9
• The hearers of David’s words also had a responsibility not to act like a stubborn animal that needed to be led around by bit and bridle.
o God is not going to force us to seek out repentance and forgiveness.
o However unless we do, we will not be able to draw close to Him.
Vs. 10
• There is mercy and forgiveness for those who trust in the LORD.
Vs. 11
• Where there is mercy and forgiveness there is also great joy and rejoicing.
o The promise is only for those who are “upright in heart;” that is our standing before God.
o That only comes by faith in Jesus Christ.
