GOD’S FORGIVENESS
Psalm 32:1–11
Karl Menninger was an American psychiatrist and author. Perhaps his most famous book was titled “Whatever Became of Sin?” We live in a culture that does not understand the nature and danger of sin. If we do not name sin for what it is, then we may suffer emotionally and perhaps physically in our individual lives and as a culture. Psalm 32 is one of the psalms of repentance.
The good news of the Bible is that God is a forgiving God, yet true repentance involves a change of direction in our lives. Psalm 32 is one of the psalms labeled as a maskil — a psalm of wisdom and instruction. To ignore Psalm 32 results in the absence of wisdom regarding the correct path of life.
Joy (1–2)
Psalm 32 opens by describing a three-fold blessing for those who have experienced God’s forgiveness as well as a three-fold description of sin. Transgressions are willful violations of a duty or moral principle. The term “sin” means to miss the mark — an absolute standard set by God. The term “iniquities” describes the corruption that occurs in an individual’s life because of sin. Sin warps us. The joy comes from God’s response to our sin — forgiveness, covering our sin and not legally charging us for our sin. The joyful do not practice deceit.
What does it mean to be cleansed of our sin?
Forgiveness (3–5)
Unconfessed sin can lead to health issues. David experienced brittle bones, all-day groaning, the heavy hand of God and the draining of his strength. As James Johnston writes in “The Psalms: Rejoice the Lord is King,” “Having your sins forgiven is better than having your student loans paid off. It is better than having a ticket taken off your record. When God forgives you, He wipes the record clean — all of it.
God’s forgiveness is deeper than an add-on at the end of a prayer — ‘God forgive me.’ What if God asked you a question: ‘For what sins are you asking forgiveness?’ Be specific in your confession of sins to God.”
Instruction (6–11)
In our Bibles between verses 5 and 6 is the small word “selah.” This word occurs 71 times in 39 of the psalms. While we lack full knowledge of the usage of this term, one possible view is that it was a term connected to music — a time to pause and think about the message. God is a hiding place for believers, a place for safety and deliverance.
In World War II, the family of a Dutch watchmaker hid Jews in hiding places in their house. One of them, Corrie ten Boom, wrote a book titled “The Hiding Place” about her experience hiding Jews. Possibly the book title derived from verse 7 of this passage.
Notice the precious promises in verses 8–10. God will instruct us, teach us in the direction we should go and counsel us along the way. The psalmist truthfully describes our condition. Do not be like a stubborn horse or mule in our understanding.
The psalm concludes with a promise and a challenge. The promise states that God’s faithful love surrounds individuals who trust in the Lord. The challenge is to be glad and rejoice in the Lord.
How would you describe God’s forgiveness to an unbeliever?
By Mark Rathel
Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs, Florida
