Psalm 32 The Blessedness of Forgiveness

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I. Our entire relationship with God is based on Him doing what He promised and us doing what He specifies to get those promises

32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression/rebellion is forgiven/lift-take away whose sin/miss is covered.  Cf Ps 1 who is blessed?

2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute/count iniquity/guilt-punishment, and in whose spirit there is no deceit/guile

Cf Rm 4

Col 1:14 in whom we have redemption thru His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Isa 53:5 He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

II. Failure to fulfill the requirements for forgiveness results in hypocrisy, bitterness, demonic influence and God's judgment 

32:3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old thru my groaning all the day long.

4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah

Pr 28:13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy (Pual-intense deep love)

14 Happy is the man who is always fears/trembles before God NIV,  but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

Ps 51 Have mercy upon me, O God, acc to Your hesed, acc to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me 

Mt 6:14  If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Lk 17:3 rebuke..repent..forgive

Mt 18:15 if...sins cx you, go and tell him his fault 'twn you and him alone...16  not hear... if he refuses even to hear the church....

Mt 18: 26 have patience 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

29 have patience 32 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt..33..delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

III. True Confession requires repenting from the heart/values, speaking the truth to yourself and God, and repair/restitution

32:5 I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity/guilt I have not hidden.  I said, 

“I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You forgave/lifted the iniquity/guilt-punishment (that came from) my sin. Selah 

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Joel 2:13 Rend your heart, not garments, return to YHWH your God, gracious/merciful, slow to anger, and of great hesed... relents 

Rabbi Yonah of Gerona” a sinner repents by: regretting/acknowledging sin; forsaking it; worrying about future consequences; acting and speaking with humility; acting opposite of the sin; understanding the magnitude of the sin; refraining from lesser sins for the purpose of safeguarding against committing greater sins; praying for atonement; correcting the sin however possible; pursuing works of chesed and truth; remembering the sin for the rest of one's life; refraining from committing the same sin if the opportunity presents itself; teaching others not to sin

IV. The results of true confession are God's blessing the righteous with freedom, protection, joy, intimacy, wisdom/understanding, 

32:6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him. 7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

Isa 55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near 7 Let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thots; Let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon

32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. 

9 Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near

10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he/she who trusts in the LORD, hesed shall surround him.        (cx “no strings attached 

11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!               covenant loyalty”!!!) 

Rm 11:26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Deliverer will come out of Zion, (future Kingdom)

And He will remove/turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins."

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. How does failure to fulfill the requirements for true confession manifest in one's life? Why is there so much hypocrisy in Christianity?

2. What is a person actually “forgiven” when they “trust Christ”? For what are they actually “trusting Christ”?

3. Are most people righteous or wicked? Are most people seeking and obeying and pleasing God or their temporal desires/flesh?

4. Have you had a Psalm 51 or 1Jn 1:9 experience? What were the results? How have you been cleansed?

5. Are you experiencing God's blessings of freedom, protection, guidance, joy, intimacy, wisdom/insight? How so? Why so?