The Blessings Of Confession

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.