Scripture:
Psalm 32:1-11 ESV
[1] Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. [2] Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. [3] For 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 dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah [5] I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah [6] Therefore, let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. [7] You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah [8] I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. [9] Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. [10] Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. [11] Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Observation:
The title of the psalm is blessed are the forgiven.
David was called a man after GOD”s own heart. As you look at his life and the way he did things, you can see a pattern. When he messed up…he went to GOD. He confessed his sin and asked tge LORD to forgive him. David knew repentance. He knew that if he took his problems to GOD that the LORD would guide him. David was not a perfect man. There were a few times in his story when we saw his actions causing major problems. The one that most of us talk about is the sin with Bathsheba. However, there are a few more that I could bring to mind, but that’s not my point. When David remained silent about his sin, he could feel GOD’s heavy hand on him. But when he brought his sin to light. In other words, confessed it to the LORD. He found that the pressure would go away. So by now, everyone knows I like to take everything back to the garden. Adam and Eve had it made they were hanging out together. Naked in front of GOD, they didn’t even know it. They had no guilt, no shame, no fear, they knew nothing about death. Just them and GOD in the cool of the day. Of course, we all know the rest of the story. The fall happened, and they tried to hide themselves from GOD. By the work of their hands. Confession was the only way. GOD came to hang out with them… I could almost see Adam under some bush, hoping not to be seen, and GOD moving the bush aside being like…uuummm…what are you doing. Why are you hiding…and what is that covering you is that a leaf? Who told you you needed to be covered. Don’t you know I made you perfectly. I wanted you naked. There’s no reason to hide.
Application:
I think about all the effort we put into hoping that no one finds out who we really are. The covering up the shame with pride or pushing people away with anger. Hoping they don’t look under the fig leaf that we have tried to cover our sin with. I know I have moved from the observation to the application, but there is a part of the story that I saved on purpose. GOD asked Adam what happened, and Adam told HIM…confession. The bible points to it over and over. Guilt and shame keep us fearful and running after death. If we want to be forgiven, we have to get on our face before the one who made us and let HIM take our sins. Tell HIM who we are behind closed doors. HE made us naked and without shame. We need to remain that way. Expose your sin to GOD, and HE will forgive you. The bible says if you confess your sins, HE is faithful and just to forgive your sins. It’s time to let go of the burden that was never yours to carry. Talk to HIM. That’s what HE wants. When we hide our sin. HE can’t do anything about it. The power is in the confession. That when our Father could cover us the right way. Death is the only way to cover sin… Now I want you to see this. Adam coved his wife and himself with fig leaves. After he confessed his sin, GOD clothed them in animal skin. Sin brought death. GOD brought forgiveness. The animal skin was a picture of Jesus. The death of that animal was a substitute for what Adam deserved. We are not made to carry guilt and shame. It makes us fearful of death. It’s not how we were made. Confess your sins to GOD and let HIM clothe you in the blood of HIS son.
Prayer:
Father, you made a way when there was no way. You are so absolutely amazing. We want to live naked in front of you. Help us to do so. We confess right now that we have sinned. Our ways are not like yours. We chase after our flesh. We compromise when we should stand firm. We get sidetracked by shiny things. We want our focus to be on you. To be planted by the water. Help us to put our flesh to death. Pick up our cross and follow you daily. Let us end every day asking you to forgive anything we might have done to offend or hurt someone and start every day with the intention of being a better person. Then we were the day before. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.