CONFESSION IS GOOD
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, may your truth shape my life today. Strengthen me to live each day according to your will and direction.
Read PSALM 32
Psalm 32
Of David. A maskil.[a]
1 Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
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 on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.[b]
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 all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Footnotes
- Psalm 32:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
- Psalm 32:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 7.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Spend time confessing your sins to God.
Think Further
Some relate this psalm, like Psalm 51, to David’s adultery with Bathsheba, but it is applicable to any sin, transgression, or iniquity that we have not confessed – perhaps because we are deceiving ourselves. John provides us with a New Testament commentary on this psalm.1 God’s gracious forgiveness of sinners is a great blessing, but so often a lack of confession deprives us of it. John depicts different layers of deceit, when we say that we have not sinned or deny that our actions constitute sin in the eyes of God. The psalmist knows the psychological damage that such a denial brings. Or it may be that we will not confess because we want to continue sinning.
Paul sees in this psalm justification by faith.2 The blessing confession brings is not only forgiveness, but the covering of our sins and their removal from God’s accounts. Why do we forfeit an open relationship with God by clinging to our sin? We are well likened to a horse or mule that needs the restraints of a bridle to walk in the right way and avoid catastrophe in our lives.
As in so many psalms, the personal experience of the writer is related to the whole congregation of Israel. What we have experienced personally of the Lord’s graciousness to us and the joy of his forgiveness is to be shared with others, not only so that they can rejoice with us, but also so that they will not conceal their own sins. When we have dealt with our sins it breaks down the barriers, not only with God but also with our fellow believers. We stop pretending to be better than we are and cease regarding others as less or more righteous than ourselves, as we all come closer to God.
Apply
Find someone else to pray with in confession and forgiveness.
Closing prayer
Loving Father, I praise you for your forgiving grace. I ask for courage to take ownership of my sins, confess them, and embrace your forgiveness.
Last Updated on February 5, 2023 by kingstar
