Psalm 32:1-7
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. – Psalm 32:2
To read the passage, please click on the link below: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2032%3A1-7&version=ESV
The primary purpose of the sin offering and guilt offering was to give people the opportunity to confess, repent, and receive forgiveness. This rebuilds and restores the broken relationship between God and humanity caused by sin. God’s people were reminded not to take His holiness lightly.
The message that those who confess and repent will surely receive God’s forgiveness deeply influenced the Old Testament people’s understanding of the relationship between God and humanity. The Israelites repeatedly stumbled throughout their history, but even at their lowest points, they held on to hope in God’s redeeming grace. They firmly believed that the Lord who made a covenant with them would surely forgive their sins.
King David of Israel said, ” Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (verses 1–2) This was David’s heart-wrenching realization. He once tried to “cover” his adultery with Bathsheba on his own, which only led him deeper into sin—from adultery to eventually murder (2 Samuel 11). He said, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.” (verse 3)
Sin is a burden and poison in the human heart. When we refuse to confess, we find no rest in body, mind, or spirit. For an entire year after David’s sin with Bathsheba, he kept silent (verse 3). On the outside appearing calm, but internally tormented and restless. After all, the holy God created us in His image and likeness, and His command is: “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44a) God does not want sin to grow within us; He wants us to be holy.
However, the crisis we face is we are living in a secular world, lacking vigilance, and not valuing God’s holiness. We sin and offend God, yet outwardly act as though nothing is wrong, rationalizing our deviations before a holy God, even ignoring the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Humans cannot “cover” their own sins. The act of “covering” (verse 1) can only be blessed when done by God. God’s “covering” is not ignoring or hiding sin, but rather, because a person has confessed and repented, He “forgives the transgression” (verse 1) and “the Lord counts no iniquity” (verse 2).
In the end, David chose to face himself honestly and confess his sins before God, “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.” (verse 5) When he confessed so thoroughly, God’s forgiveness came immediately, and the burden in his heart was lifted—”God surrounded me with shouts of deliverance!”
Response:
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide us, so we may face ourselves honestly, confess and repent before God, and be set free!
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy and great love. Thank You for “covering” our sins. Please help me face myself honestly; to live transparently and truthfully in the light of Your holiness! May I always pursue a life that is set apart and holy! I pray in the victorious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
To read the passage, please click on the link below: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2032%3A1-7&version=ESV
The primary purpose of the sin offering and guilt offering was to give people the opportunity to confess, repent, and receive forgiveness. This rebuilds and restores the broken relationship between God and humanity caused by sin. God’s people were reminded not to take His holiness lightly.
The message that those who confess and repent will surely receive God’s forgiveness deeply influenced the Old Testament people’s understanding of the relationship between God and humanity. The Israelites repeatedly stumbled throughout their history, but even at their lowest points, they held on to hope in God’s redeeming grace. They firmly believed that the Lord who made a covenant with them would surely forgive their sins.
King David of Israel said, ” Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.” (verses 1–2) This was David’s heart-wrenching realization. He once tried to “cover” his adultery with Bathsheba on his own, which only led him deeper into sin—from adultery to eventually murder (2 Samuel 11). He said, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.” (verse 3)
Sin is a burden and poison in the human heart. When we refuse to confess, we find no rest in body, mind, or spirit. For an entire year after David’s sin with Bathsheba, he kept silent (verse 3). On the outside appearing calm, but internally tormented and restless. After all, the holy God created us in His image and likeness, and His command is: “For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44a) God does not want sin to grow within us; He wants us to be holy.
However, the crisis we face is we are living in a secular world, lacking vigilance, and not valuing God’s holiness. We sin and offend God, yet outwardly act as though nothing is wrong, rationalizing our deviations before a holy God, even ignoring the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Humans cannot “cover” their own sins. The act of “covering” (verse 1) can only be blessed when done by God. God’s “covering” is not ignoring or hiding sin, but rather, because a person has confessed and repented, He “forgives the transgression” (verse 1) and “the Lord counts no iniquity” (verse 2).
In the end, David chose to face himself honestly and confess his sins before God, “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.” (verse 5) When he confessed so thoroughly, God’s forgiveness came immediately, and the burden in his heart was lifted—”God surrounded me with shouts of deliverance!”
Response:
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enlighten and guide us, so we may face ourselves honestly, confess and repent before God, and be set free!
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy and great love. Thank You for “covering” our sins. Please help me face myself honestly; to live transparently and truthfully in the light of Your holiness! May I always pursue a life that is set apart and holy! I pray in the victorious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!