The Relief of Being Forgiven
Have you been embroiled in sin? Is your joy sapped? Are your relationships ruined? You may feel far from God—a bit helpless, even—but the Lord's arms of love remain outstretched, and He offers you a second chance. David experienced this(1).
I. The Anatomy of Sin
In Psalm 32:1, David cries, How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! We're not sure what caused David such guilt, but we may assume it was due to the Bathsheba affair.
David doesn’t mince words. His sin was no accident and was more than a boo-boo or oopsy. He calls it rebellion against Yahweh, a revolt, perverted treason, like a multi-armed sea creature that took over his life.
II. The Misery of Guilt
In v. 3, David continues, When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night, Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. David gets real honest and explains that while he stayed quiet, he was miserable. Bathsheba's baby bump was growing, and Uriah wasn't taking the bait.
David's words are descriptive of guilt: His body was wasted, meaning he got continually sicker, his spirit was weighted, meaning he felt the knot in his stomach, and his desire had withered, meaning he had no appetite or sex drive.
In our modern world, we call this psychosomatic illness. Interestingly, modern science continues to link internal struggles with physical disorders(2). Just like David experienced, illness can be the effect of sin. Not always, but it can be.
III. The Mercy of Misery
In v. 4, David says God’s hand was heavy upon me. In a fascinating twist, he says what sin used to destroy, God was using to rebuild. The term “hand of God” is David’s way of saying, “Yahweh mixed it up” or, “Yahweh worked in it.”
Yes, misery can be a divine gift. Misery is God's pressure cooker, where He preys on our conscience and drives us toward confession. Jesus provided us a picture of this when he told the story of a prodigal son who runs off to party (Lk. 15). Soon, he's poor, alone, and desperate just for pig food. Jesus says it caused him to "Come to his senses…."
IV. The Vocabulary of Forgiveness
David admits his sin in v. 5, I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," And You forgave the guilt of my sin.
It's hard to catch in English, but in Hebrew, we have a play on the word kasa, "to cover." For a year, David had covered his sin—hiding. Then God uncovered his sin—got caught. But then David uncovered his sin—confession. So God covered his sin—forgiveness.
The key phrase in all this is, “You forgave the guilt….” A more literal reading is you hid the history and dismissed the debt. Naturally, this prompts the question—how? Who dismissed it? Why was it thrown out? Who paid the price?
The answer, of course, is a Suffering Servant:
All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him… -Isaiah 53:6 (NASB)
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. -1 Pet. 2:24 (NASB)
And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, but He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. –Col. 2:13-14 (NASB)
V. The Lessons of Experience
In vv. 8-9 David urges readers to learn from his mistakes, I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check; otherwise, they will not come near….
Horses tend to "horse around" and therefore need a bit and bridle. Likewise, mules tend to be stubborn and a bit dense. David warns us, don't be that way. Don't be hard-headed, numb-skulled, and thick!—He’ll throw you in the pressure cooker, too!
VI. The Call of Joy
David closes with joy and relief vv. 10-11, Many are the sorrows of the wicked; but he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice you righteous ones, and shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
It's important to note the contrast: David isn't comparing the wicked vs. the perfect. Instead, he's comparing the wicked vs. the forgiven. We do well to remember that. God doesn’t expect perfect people, just humbly progressing people. The man or woman who confesses their sin, and starts again, experiences the hope of Calvary and the joy of fellowship.
Conclusion
If you’ve blown it big, confess your sins, and He’s faithful and just to forgive, even to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.
God is so good. He refuses to leave you in sin and is preying on your conscience, awakening you to better things.
God is so good. He offers you forgiveness, and His own Son died to hide the history, cancel the debt, and pay the price.
God's so good. He offers you joy, so you can rejoice again, joining the righteous to sing and shout with constant marvel.
For more in-depth analysis, see Dale Ralph Davis, In the Presence of My Enemies (Christian Focus: 2020).
Secularists, of course, call this “Mental Health" https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/psychology-low-back-pain-201604259537.
