Psalm 32:1-5 (NIV) 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. (5) Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’ – and You forgave the guilt of my sin. (6) Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found.”
In this passage, David beautifully describes reflection, resistance, and repentance. He finds himself opening the Psalm in a state of reflection upon how blessed he truly is. His sins have been removed from him and his heart has been transformed to a place of “no deceit.” Twice he declares, “Blessed!” Within this one-word declaration, it is as if he is saying, “Don’t ever forget or ever take this redemptive work of the Lord for granted!”
This state of blessing is summed up elsewhere in the Scriptures and is cause for both shouting AND stillness before the God of the Ages.
Psalm 103:12 – As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
What a blessing! Isaiah 1:18 – “‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson they shall be like wool.’” What a blessing is available to us all! The removal of our sin is not just about the future; it is also about the present removal of guilt and conviction.
Next, David reflects back to the life of internalizing his sin. He says, “When I kept silent,” indicating a place in his past life. Pride drives men and women to isolation, bearing the weight and believing the lie that they can fix themselves. David remembers when he resisted confession, repentance, and prayer. He recalls his life without God.
He describes this as a place of, “bones wasting away, groaning all day long, and his strength being sapped as in the heat of summer.” This is vivid imagery describing the agony of the sinner! When in sin, both the “hand of the Lord” and the “hand of the devil” is upon the heart.
The condemnation, depression, and suicidal thoughts are from the evil one. The prick of guilt and conviction of wrongdoing is from the Holy Spirit. This place of silent resistance is the fork in the road. Which path will the sinner choose? Will he choose the road of self-condemnation, depression, isolation, and suicide? Will he choose the road of guilt and conviction, which leads to godly sorry and repentance? 2 Corinthians 7:10 – “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorry brings death.”
In verse 5, David the psalmist declares, “Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’” This is the most blessed and glorious moment any human can experience! This moment is the ray of sunshine on the stormiest of days. It is the moment when humility and faith unite and produce new life. It is the moment when the sinner acknowledges he needs help.
The result of this beautiful moment of confession is that the Lord, “forgave the guilt of my sin.” Forgiveness is the healing of our heart, the releasing of the weight, and the realization of hope. As painful as it is to acknowledge we broke the law, sinned against both God and man, and did wrong – this act is required for internal healing and salvation.
Finally, David emphatically declares in verse 6, “Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You.” This is the obvious conclusion of this meditation. With such blessing and freedom, healing and salvation, hope and a future coming from repentance, everyone should cry out to God. This is the invitation; this is the call.
To you the reader, where do you find yourself today? Are you resisting conviction and keeping silent, groaning on the inside from the weight of sin? Do you need to be reminded of the blessing that comes from bringing your sin into the light? Have you lost your motivation to worship because you have forgotten what God has done for you? Have you forgotten the agony the sinners around you are in?
