Psalm 32:1: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, / Whose sin is covered.”

February 7th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

David opened this psalm with a profound statement about what brings happiness in life. He pointed to the person who has found forgiveness of sins as the one who is blessed, who is happy. God forgives completely, not because of how good we are, but because of the work of Jesus on the cross. So many feel that their sins can’t be forgiven, that they are way beyond the possibility of forgiveness. But that is never the case with God, because when He forgives our sins, He chooses to never remember them again.

Many in the church have a Santa Clause mentality about God. You know, the “he’s making a list, checking it twice, going to find out who’s naughty and nice” thing. But that is not how our heavenly Father looks at and forgives our sins. Because the Son paid in full the expensive price of His own sinless blood, which completely atones for our sins, God releases us and will never bring it up again.

Years ago I read a story about Camelot. While King Arthur was away, his wife Guinevere was unfaithful with Sir Lancelot. When Arthur returned, he discovered the affair and had his wife placed in a convent for life. Years later the king visited her in the convent and tried to make amends. But the end of the story does not turn out right. In the closing lines of that scene, Arthur said, “Lo, I forgive thee even as the eternal God forgives.” But then he turned and walked away. Of course that’s not how our heavenly Father forgives. He never leaves us locked in the convent or our own circumstances. Had Arthur forgiven his wife the way God forgives, he would have said, “I completely forgive you. You’re coming home as my queen, and you’re going to ascend the throne again.” Our Father God forgives us without conditions.

“LORD, we are very blessed because of Your forgiveness so freely given to us today.”