The Joy of Knowing the Removal of Sin

 As we look at Psalm 32, we observe the position of the believer, in light of the Lord’s attributes of mercy and grace bestowed upon them. What is wonderful about this Psalm is that it begins with great confidence, knowing the believer’s sins are covered, guilt is removed and joy is replaced. The Psalm beings with acknowledging the great work of the Lord, of whose power and strength removes the guilty stain upon the believer in verses 1 – 2.

How joyful is the one
whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered!
² How joyful is the man
the Lord does not charge with sin
and in whose spirit is no deceit!

We see the condition of the believer in a sinful state, much like our very own! How often do we keep silent of our own sins? Consider that famous question the Lord asks of Adam in Genesis 3:9 “where are you?” This was not a question of where his physical presence was, for we know the Lord is omnipresent. His question was far greater, “where are you Adam? You have drifted from my commands, from my ways, from my love, from my perfection.” And likewise the Psalmist stresses that same distance of keeping silent, O how often we all as believers keep silent of our sin, feeling the dread of shame ensnare us! We’re not told what sin the Psalmist has committed, nor do I believe we need to know. This is purely between the Lord and the Psalmist. But we see its effect take its toll on the believer in verse 4, the guilt will not leave.

For day and night Your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was drained^[a]
as in the summer’s heat.Selah

What we see in this verse is the Lord sovereign over the believer, His presence forever with them pressing the Law upon the believer’s heart. Not as one who is a tyrant, but as one who desires to forgive! This is what we see in verse 5, the removal of sin and the guilty stain washed clean. The Lord expresses His attributes of love, mercy and grace upon the believer!

Then I acknowledged my sin to You

and did not conceal my iniquity.
I said,
“I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and You took away the guilt of my sin.Selah

In verses 6-7 we see a change, the believer praises the Lord and encourages the believers to praise the Lord in light of His bestowed mercy!

Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to You
at a time that You may be found.^[b]
When great floodwaters come,
they will not reach him.
⁷ You are my hiding place;
You protect me from trouble.
You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance

The Psalmist acknowledges the work of the Lord, His deliverance, His comfort and the immovable rock that is our Lord! This is the condition of the believer, a change of heart, a position that is able to look back on the past and recognise who they were in their sinful state and recognise the Lord’s deliverance. We kept silent, but the Lord pressed upon His law on our hearts. We confessed our sin to Him and He forgave us. What then shall we do in light of this great transformation? As the Psalmist has paved the way, we must praise the Lord in light of knowing He has delivered us from a guilty place.

There’s a change in verses 8-9, we know it’s not as if the Psalmist is speaking, for the Psalmist himself would not instruct the Lord.

I will instruct you and show you the way to go;
with My eye on you, I will give counsel.
⁹ Do not be like a horse or mule,
without understanding,
that must be controlled with bit and bridle
or else it will not come near you.

Therefore this verse is spoken as the Lord speaks directly to the Psalmist. What a comfort this is! The Lord provides instruction, His counsel and His commands! He presents a way in which we ought to live, not as one who is controlled with constant discipline as the horse and mule are with bit and bridle. But as one who recognises His counsel in all things, as one who recognises the path that is made clear by the Lord.

Many pains come to the wicked,
but the one who trusts in the Lord
will have faithful love surrounding him.
¹¹ Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
you righteous ones;
shout for joy,
all you upright in heart.

We see in this conclusion a contrast between the wicked and the faithful. Perhaps this is in light of knowing that the Lord’s counsel is upon the faithful and thus the wicked are without the direction of the Lord and His instruction. Thus it is right to suggest that “many pains come to the wicked”. But as the Psalmist suggests our trust ought to be in the Lord, for His love is never ending and His mercy covers a multitude of sins. Therefore it is right that the psalmist concludes by showing us where our affections ought to be. We must rejoice in the Lord, we must take delight in the Lord.

This Psalm pivots so much on the Christian walk of today! We easily fall into sin and become so ashamed that we are silent from seeking God. And yet, His hand is heavy upon is in a way that reveals the law of righteousness in conjunction with the sin we have committed. Not in an accusatory way, but in a way that reveals God’s mercy. Yes we may endure guilt from our sin, but we ought to remember how the Psalmist has acknowledged his sin and how the Lord removed a guilty stain. Thus the Lord’s attributes of love, grace and mercy are forever upon His people. We ought not to dabble in silence, away from the Lord but to confess our sin with many tears and seek the Lord for forgiveness.