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.”

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Psalms 32 KJV

¹ Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 

² Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

³ When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

⁴ For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

⁵ I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

⁶ For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. 

⁷ Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

⁸ I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 

⁹ Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

¹⁰ Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

¹¹ Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.