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.”
Psalm 32:5
This is a happy Psalm! Or at least it is a Psalm that points us back to the source of our happiness which is found in a restored relationship with God. It is one of seven “Penitential Psalms” or Psalms of Repentance (Psa 6; 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143) where the believer is led to turn from sin and return to God for the life and joy only He can give. These Psalms remind us that, while the way of sin is filled with sorrow (Psa 32:10), God uses the path of repentance to restore us to the arms of our faithful Savior where we find joy and forgiveness forever.
Repentance is a blessing. I realize this arrogant world doesn’t believe that. Yet this world is drowning in it’s sin, awash with the misery that comes when people live only for themselves. But God desires far better for us. God desires to bestow on us the abundant blessing of a new life lived in fellowship with Him – a life where we know our sins are forgiven, our future is secure, and that we are loved by Him. And the door into that place of blessing is the door of repentance through faith in Christ. It is God’s kindness that lead us to repentance (Rm 2:4).
So what is repentance? Repentance is a spiritual turn or ‘about face’ where the heart and life turn from the pursuit of sin and self to the enjoyment of new life in fellowship with God. In repentance we acknowledge the evil of our sins (which are killing us) and turn from them that we might return to God for all He promises us in Christ. By turning from our sins to embrace Christ by faith, we gain all we need for life in this world and joy forever in the life to come.
This morning it is my hope that Psalm 32 will help you examine yourself. Where do you stand with God? Are you holding on to your sin (to any sin)? Is that what’s keeping you from God? If so, please pay attention to the warning in vv 3-4, as well as in v 10. Are you clinging to your sin? Or have you come by repentance and faith to confess you sins so that you are now receiving the promised blessing of vv 1-2 where your sins are forgiven and you have the assurance God will never count them against you again. Do you know that? If so, rejoice! (v 11). If not, why not ask someone today how you can know it?
There is Joy God’s Forgiveness through Christ
Pastor Scott