Psalm 32

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Psalm 32
• Sermon
• Prayer

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Sermon Title: The Joy and Confession of Forgiveness

Scripture: Psalm 32

I. The Joy of Forgiveness

A. "Blessed" (happy) is the one whose transgression is forgiven — Psalm 32:1–2

1. The Hebrew word for "forgiven" means a lifting or removing — sin is lifted off our shoulders and wiped away
2. The word "covered" means concealed from sight — God no longer sees our sin clinging to us
3. Bunyan captures this in Pilgrim's Progress: the burden of sin falls away at the cross

B. "Counts" (verse 2) can be translated reckon or impute — a word of one's account or status before God

1. When God forgives, sin is not reckoned to our account
2. The "upright in heart" are those who recognize how truly unrighteous they are — no self-deceit (1 John 1:8)

C. Paul interprets Psalm 32:1–2 in Romans 4:4–8

1. Faith is reckoned as righteousness to the one who does not work but trusts in God who justifies the ungodly
2. Luther's "Great Exchange": our sin is imputed to Christ; his righteousness is imputed to us
3. We come before God not only sinless but positively righteous — through Christ alone, not our works

II. The Confession of Forgiveness

A. When David kept silent, his bones wasted away and the Lord's hand was heavy upon him — Psalm 32:3–4

1. Sin causes body and soul to decay; guilt and shame produce real anguish
2. The intense suffering is directly tied to his refusal to confess

B. David acknowledged his sin and did not cover his iniquity — Psalm 32:5

1. Play on words: he refused to cover his sin, and the result is God covers it
2. 1 John 1:9: if we confess, God is faithful and just to forgive — his righteousness is bound up in his free forgiveness

C. Satan uses guilt to silence the sinner; God uses his righteousness and faithfulness to woo the sinner into confession

1. The prophets constantly use God's mercy as the incentive to return to him
2. The groanings of Psalm 32:3 (anguish without confession) contrasted with the groanings of Romans 8 (the Spirit interceding and bringing our confessions before the Father)

III. The Lesson from Forgiveness

A. Seek the Lord while he may be found — Psalm 32:6

1. While living in the day of grace, do not presume on tomorrow — the flood of judgment may come
2. Acts 17 (Paul at the Areopagus): God is near, but he has set a day of judgment
3. 2 Corinthians 6: today is the day of salvation — confess sin immediately, do not delay

B. God as hiding place and deliverer — Psalm 32:7

C. Forgiveness is a sanctifying forgiveness — Psalm 32:8–9

1. God instructs and counsels the forgiven — do not be like a horse or mule without understanding
2. Forgiveness is not a cleaned conscience that permits a return to former sin; it opens our ears to walk a new path
3. True confession includes crying out for the gift of repentance and the Spirit's enabling to walk in the narrow way
4. Forgiveness opens our ears to God's Word — his testimonies, laws, and statutes — leading to peace and joy rather than sorrow

IV. The Shouts of Forgiveness

A. The joy of forgiveness is corporate, not only individual — Psalm 32:6, 32:11

1. The plural "you" in verses 8 and 11 addresses the whole people of God collectively
2. The godly ones surround David with shouts of God's grace — they too have tasted forgiveness

B. "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!" — Psalm 32:11

1. When the congregation confesses sin and hears the assurance of pardon, there is a communal joy among all the saints
2. Together the church gives shouts of deliverance

C. Practical application: run to Psalm 32 in times of extreme guilt; if words fail, recite the psalm in the midst of sin and burden and know the forgiveness of God