THE BLESSINGS OF CONFESSION (PSALM 32)
Americans tend to fall into three categories when it comes to sin, according to LifeWay Research’s representative survey of 1,000 Americans that was conducted Sept. 27-Oct. 1, 2016. A third (34 percent) of respondents say they are sinners and are working on being less sinful, while a quarter (28 percent) say they are sinners and rely on Jesus to overcome their sin.
One in 10 say sin doesn’t exist (10 percent) or that they are not sinners (8 percent), while a larger 15 percent prefer not to say if they are sinners at all. Only 1 in 20 are fine with being sinners (5 percent).
In that study, two-thirds (65 percent) agreed that everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature. More than half (57 percent) said it would be fair for God to show His wrath against sin. https://www.brnow.org/news/Survey-spotlights-American-views-on-sin/
Psalm 32 is the first of 13 “maskil” psalms or didactic/instructive poems in the Bible, of which six are ascribed to David, including this psalm (Ps 32, 52, 53, 54, 55, 142), four to the sons of Korah (Ps 42, 44, 45, 88), two to Asaph (Ps 74, 78) and one to Ethan of Ezrahite (Ps 89). The structure from verses 1-4 is in the “before” + “during” (vv 5) and “after” progression.
What do you do with sin? How does it mess up your life? What are the obstacles to confessing our sin?
Repair the Damage
1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Selah
Here are some telling quotes on “sin”:
“The trouble with a little sin is that it won't stay little.” Robert C. Savage
“One leak will sink a ship: and one sin will destroy a sinner.” John Bunyan
“We are not punished for our sins, but by them.” Elbert Hubbard
“Sin arrived as a passerby, next lingered for a moment, then came as a visitor, and finally became master of the house.” Israel Shenker
“Sins cannot be undone, only forgiven.” Igor Stravinsky
The word blessed (vv 1, 2) occurs 45 times in Psalms, out of which only five psalms begin with the word “blessed” as the first word of the psalm. Blessed is not just the first word of verse 1, it is also the first word of verse 2, so the person is doubly, deeply, doubtlessly and durably blessed. This word “blessed” is also translated as “happy” besides “blessed” in the Bible. BLESS is in our Being, Living, Endeavoring, Sojourning & Sharing (my acronym).
Who is blessed? The person who is forgiven. (v 1 “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered”) What do “forgiven” and “covered” mean? How are they different? Forgiven is “lifted” and covered is “clothed.” Forgiven is the remission or removal, cover is the replacement. Forgiven is the subtraction, while cover is the addition. One is to put off, and the other is to put on.
“Count” (v 2 “sin not count against him”) is consider, computate or charge (Holman’s) the person as guilty. “Count against him” is to the person’s detriment, debt or disfavor. “No deceit” (v 2, “in whose spirit is no deceit”) is not dishonest or deceptive, nor one who is double-face, double-tongued or double-dealing.
There are two reasons (ki) to the blessedness of forgiven sins, one each in verse 3 and 4. The first is in reference to oneself - “wasted away” (v 3 “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long”) , which is wax old (Gen 18:12), consume (Job 13:280 and lone enjoy (Isa 65:22). It is to fail; by implication wipe out, weakened, wear and tear – the decay, degeneration, decline, deterioration of the body. Groaning is introduced to the Bible understandably by Job (Job 3:24). It occurs merely seven times in the Bible, of which five times it is traditionally translated as the “roaring” of a lion. (Job 4:10, Isa 5:29, Ezek 19:7, Zech 11:3)
The second is in our relationship with God (v 4 “For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer”) - with two contrasting verbs “heavy” and “sap.” “Heavy’ is burden, baggage, bulk. Sap is no energy, enthusiasm or effort. “Strength/moisture” and “heat/drought” are contrasts. Heat is drought (KJV), dehydration and death. The next day after this message I met a friend from overseas who told me Hong Kong’s 30C and Singapore’s 32C weather is nothing compared to Taipei’s 36C, where he’s been for a few months.
Verses 3-4 also address “time” or “when” – all day long (v 3) and day and night, and summer (v 4). It is every day, every time, ever and ever.
Rebuild the Relationship
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" — and you forgave the guilt of my sin. 6 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. 7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
An old lady came into her doctor’s office and confessed to an embarrassing problem: “I pass gas all the time, Doctor Johnson, but it’s soundless, and without odor. In fact, since I’ve been here, I’ve passed gas no less than twenty times. What can I do?”
“Here’s a prescription, Mrs. Barker. Take these pills three times a day for seven days and come back and see me in a week.”
The next week, an upset Mrs. Barker marched into Dr. Johnson’s office: “Doc, I don’t know what was in those pills, but the problem is worse! I’m passing gas just as much, and they’re still soundless, but now they smell terrible! What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Calm down, Mrs. Barker,” said the doctor soothingly. “Now that we’ve fixed your sinuses (sense of smell), we’ll work on your hearing.”
The list of offenses includes sin (v 5, chattaah), iniquity (avon) and transgression (v 6, pasha) – the first time these three stated together in one verse. Sin is in the omission, iniquity the commission and transgressions the insubmission. Theologically, sin is to come short (of the glory of God), iniquity is commit wrongdoing, and transgressions is to challenge authority. Sin is a feminine noun, iniquity is common gender, and transgressions is masculine.
V 5 Sin (chattaah) Iniquity (avon) Transgressions (pasha)
Omission Commission Insubmission
Come short Commit wrong Challenge authority
Feminine Common Masculine
Verses 5 to 6 in the I (v 5 “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity”) + You (v 5 I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" — and YOU forgave the guilt of my sin” + all (v 6 Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found’ progression. “Acknowledge” (and “not cover up” are a contrast. Acknowledge (yada) in Hiphil verb is “cause to know” in Hebrew and “cover up” (v 5) occurred previously in verse 1. Acknowledge is in the mind (know) open up, while “cover up” is close or shut down. Confess (v 5 yadah) is an “open hand” that throws “praise” and “confessions” toward its object (Blueletter Bible). There are two “not” contrast (vv 5, 6) sandwiched by confess and forgave (v 5).
Hiding place (v 7 “You are my hiding place”) means secret, safety, security, safeguard, shelter and shield. Hiding place is of two things. The first is “protect” (v 7 “you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance”). Protect is not to prevent, but to preserve and prop us. Its most popular translation is “keep.” Means save, support and sustain us. Trouble (v 7) in KJV is affliction (Ps 106:44), adversity (Isa 30:20) and adversary (Deut 32:27), or anguish (Job 7:11).
Surround (v 7) means encircle, enclose, encompass, encamp, engulf. The Lord is before us, behind us, beside us, beneath us. He is ahead of us, around us and alongside us. The most famous incident is “surround” the city of Jericho (Josh 6:3). Songs of deliverance (v 7) is also translated as shouts of deliverance. It might surprise you to know this “songs” (v 7) occurs only this one time in the Bible. ESV translate it as “shouts” of deliverance. It could be shouts, sounds, symphonies, strings, sonatas but never solo because it is plural in Hebrew! Songs is singular 46 times in Psalms but plural three times only, including this verse! Deliverance (v 7) occurs in the Bible for the first time; it means escape, so that we won’t be ensnared, entrapped, entangled, enmeshed, endangered by trouble.
Restore the Joy
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. 10 Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. 11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
In England a century and a half ago lived a man whose business was cobbling shoes. He was an earnest Christian and, though he was poor, Christ filled his life with joy. The cobbler had a beautiful, strong voice which from morning till night was raised in cheerful song. His little shop was the last one of a row in the little village, and just beyond there was a mansion surrounded by spacious lawns where lived the richest man of the community.
One morning the rich master stepped into the cobbler's shop and complained about the singing. He told the cobbler that if he would cease his singing he would give him twenty pounds. This was more than the cobbler could earn at his trade in several months, and so he closed with the man, and ceased his singing.
At times during the day he would forget and start singing when the overflow of joy in his heart would be strong. But then he remembered the bag where those gold pieces rested. Strangely enough, when he went home there was gloom in his heart, and he did not feel like singing. In the morning he woke with a sense of oppression--he could not sing that day. Through the day the gloom mounted till late in the afternoon he could stand it no longer. He locked up his shop, went to the rich man's home, and handed to him the sack of gold pieces. “Here,” said the cobbler, “take this money. I dare not lose the benefit I get from singing about my Savior. When I sing, my joy seems to grow.”
Verse 8’s “instruct” brings us to Genesis to its first occurrence in the Bible where Eve took the fruit to “gain wisdom” (Gen 3:6). Teach (v 8) is to direct (Gen 46:28) – to point to the right direction. There is a cohortative command in the first person – let me “guide” you (KJV). “Counsel and watch” is actually one word in Hebrew, of which ESV, RSV and NASB prefer the verb “counsel” only. Counsel originates from Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, who pointedly said to Moses: “Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee COUNSEL” (Ex 18:19). It is also translated as consultation, advice or devise.
V 8 Instruct Teach Guide/Counsel
Wisdom Walk Watch
Provision Path Participation
Instruct Intervention Input
Next is the second person jussive command “Do not BE like the horse or the mule” (v 9 “Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by BIT and BRIDLE or they will not come to you”). The bit (v 9) is the metal piece in the horse's mouth and the bridle is the straps holding the bit and connecting to the reins. Bit is metal, while straps are leather. Bit and bridle serve as the control, curb, check or curtail the horse or mule to obey instructions, change course, comply or follow orders instructions.
Verses 10-11 abound with contrasting emotions. Woe is “sorrow” in KJV, and “woe”is contrasted with rejoice, be glad and sing (“shout for joy” in KJV). KJV for sorrow is introduced in the Bible by Israel’s experience in Egypt Ex 3:7 (“in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows”).
Application:
1. Realization (awareness)
2. Repentance (acknowledgement)
3. Review (autopsy)
4. Remedy (antidote)
5. Recompense (amends)
Victor Yap
Bible.ryl.hk (Grammar Bible)
Preachchrist.com (sermons)
