Psalm 32 - David's sin and restoration -
Psalm 51 "Then will I teach transgressors thy ways"
1. THE PROFIT OF CLEANSED SIN - v. 1 "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." Why? Sin is a:-
(a) Defiance - v. 1 "transgression" - i.e. to step over the mark - rebellion against God Isaiah 53 v. 6 "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
(b) Defect - v. 1 "sin" - i.e. to miss the mark - Romans 3 v. 23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
(c) Distortion - v. 2 "iniquity" - i.e. bent off the mark - i.e. crooked -
Romans 7 v. 18 - 20 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."
(d) Deception - v. 2 "no guile" - i.e. avoid the mark David's cover up - cost him dearly - Proverbs 28 v. 13 & 14 "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief."
Blessed because of:-
(a) His Cleansing - v. 1 His sin is cancelled, covered and carried away
(b) His Closeness - v. 2 "Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." - debt cancelled -
James 4 v. 8 "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."
(c) His Clarity - v. 2 "no guile" i.e. he knows how he stands before God -
not hope so, trust so, might be so, he knows in whom he has believed
2. THE PROBLEM OF CONCEALED SIN - v. 3 & 4 "When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer."
Problems in:-
(a) The Physical Realm - i.e. His Health suffered - "my bones waxed old "
(b) The Spiritual Realm - i.e. His Hope suffered - v. 4 "thy hand was heavy upon me" - lost his song
(c) The Emotional Realm - i.e. His Happiness suffered -
v. 4 "my moisture is turned into the drought of summer." -
Psalm 51 v. 12 "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."
(d) The National Realm - i.e. His honesty suffered - God knew what David had done
Billy Bray - roaring for burden of sin
3. THE PATTERN FOR CONFRONTING SIN - v. 5 "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin."
There must be:-
(a) Recognition of sin - i.e. cite it "I acknowledged my sin " - i.e. acknowledge:-
1. The Existence of sin 1 John 1 v. 8 - 10 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."
2. The Extent of sin - Isaiah 1 v. 5 & 6 "Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment."
Jeremiah 17 v. 9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
3. The Error of sin - Isaiah 53 v. 6 "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
(b) Rejection of sin - i.e. confess it - v. 5 "mine iniquity have I not hid. "
Psalm 51 v. 1 - 7 i.e. v, 1 "have mercy upon me", v. 2 "wash me and cleanse me", v. 7 "purge me, wash me"
(c) The Removal of sin - i.e. cleanse it - v. 5 "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin."
Note - God's faithfulness - "thou forgavest" as he promised
God's forgiveness - i.e. it was full, it was free, it was final - "thou forgavest"
God's forthrightness - "the iniquity of my sin" i.e. no delay, no doubt, no difficulty
4. THE PRIORITY OF CONQUERING SIN - v. 6 "For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him."
(a) The Purpose of Prayer - "for this"
(b) The Power of Prayer - "pray unto thee"
(c) The Priority of Prayer - "in a time when thou mayest be found"
(d) The Protection through Prayer - v. 7 "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance."
(e) The Praise by Prayer - "songs of deliverance"
5. THE PROVISION FOR CANCELLED SIN - v. 8 - 11
God provides:-
(a) Guidance - v. 8 "I will instruct thee"
(b) Government - v. 9 "Be ye not as the horse" i.e. don't run ahead (horse) or don't fall behind (mule)
(c) Guardianship - v. 10 "mercy shall compass him about"
(d) Gladness - v. 11 "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous" i.e.
Rejoice in:-
1. Salvation
2. Sanctification
3. Separation - "be glad in the Lord"
4. Salutation - "shout for joy"
My life flows on in an endless song;
Above earth's lamentation;
I hear the sweet, not far-off hymn
That hails the new creation;
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul -
How can I keep from singing?
