"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." — Psalm 32:1-2
The key to the blessing affirmed in these two verses is found in the study of the verses immediately following.
The third verse suggests an attempt to evade the sin problem by a cover up. "When I kept silence," is the opposite of confession. Many there are who seek to ignore moral and spiritual issues by covering them with silence, which is why so many are angered when the light of the gospel is shed on them, whether by sermon, script or a personal testimony. Scripture declares, "He that covereth his sin shall not prosper… [Prov 28:13a]." Often it appears to us that our sin is hidden, private and that if we "keep it to ourselves" we are secure from judgment and shame. The truth is that however secret the sin, "nothing is hid from the eyes of Him with whom we have to do [Heb. 13:8]," and it is, after all, He who will finally expose and judge our trangressions and iniquities.
Ignoring sin may work well enough for those whose consciences are seared, or for fools who say "there is no God," but it did not work well for the psalmist. He could be silent about his sin, but he could not silence the divine conviction of a troubled conscience. "My bones roared" because "day and night thy hand was heavy upon me." How great is God's goodness when He generates in our hearts conviction of sin. The writer of proverbs remarked, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend [Prov. 27:6a]," and when God "wounds" us with conviction, whether as unconverted sinners standing on the threshold of eternal judgment, or as straying believers needing to be restored to a right relationship with God, He has dealt with us in grace and mercy and proves Himself the greatest of Friends.
It was his inability to escape the discomfort and restlessness wrought by the heavy hand of God that resulted in the writer's confession. "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. (v.5)." This verse will bring immediately to the mind of every enlightened believer the familiar I John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." And our text from Proverbs reads in its entirety, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy [Prov. 28:13]."
Thus there follows the counsel of the forgiven sinner: "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. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about (v.9,10)." It is in heeding that counsel that release comes, bringing the joy and gladness of sins forgiven: "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart [v.11]."
It awaits of course the revelation of the New Testament to disclose the ground upon which confession and forgiveness rest. Sin, whether before or after salvation, separates from God. It separates the unconverted from God forever, and the sinning saint from fellowship with Him for now. It is the Savior's sacrifice on the cross that provides the ground of a just pardon in exchange for simple faith and the acknowledgment of our transgressions. "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ [Eh. 2:13]." The pardon can be afforded because Jesus paid the price for our redemption: "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all [Isa. 53:5-6]." Let us ever remember that while forgiveness of sins comes to us freely "if we confess our sins," it does not come cheap. "Jesus paid it all!"
Blessed indeed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
For our good,
"Pastor" Frasier
The key to the blessing affirmed in these two verses is found in the study of the verses immediately following.
The third verse suggests an attempt to evade the sin problem by a cover up. "When I kept silence," is the opposite of confession. Many there are who seek to ignore moral and spiritual issues by covering them with silence, which is why so many are angered when the light of the gospel is shed on them, whether by sermon, script or a personal testimony. Scripture declares, "He that covereth his sin shall not prosper… [Prov 28:13a]." Often it appears to us that our sin is hidden, private and that if we "keep it to ourselves" we are secure from judgment and shame. The truth is that however secret the sin, "nothing is hid from the eyes of Him with whom we have to do [Heb. 13:8]," and it is, after all, He who will finally expose and judge our trangressions and iniquities.
Ignoring sin may work well enough for those whose consciences are seared, or for fools who say "there is no God," but it did not work well for the psalmist. He could be silent about his sin, but he could not silence the divine conviction of a troubled conscience. "My bones roared" because "day and night thy hand was heavy upon me." How great is God's goodness when He generates in our hearts conviction of sin. The writer of proverbs remarked, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend [Prov. 27:6a]," and when God "wounds" us with conviction, whether as unconverted sinners standing on the threshold of eternal judgment, or as straying believers needing to be restored to a right relationship with God, He has dealt with us in grace and mercy and proves Himself the greatest of Friends.
It was his inability to escape the discomfort and restlessness wrought by the heavy hand of God that resulted in the writer's confession. "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. (v.5)." This verse will bring immediately to the mind of every enlightened believer the familiar I John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." And our text from Proverbs reads in its entirety, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy [Prov. 28:13]."
Thus there follows the counsel of the forgiven sinner: "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. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about (v.9,10)." It is in heeding that counsel that release comes, bringing the joy and gladness of sins forgiven: "Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart [v.11]."
It awaits of course the revelation of the New Testament to disclose the ground upon which confession and forgiveness rest. Sin, whether before or after salvation, separates from God. It separates the unconverted from God forever, and the sinning saint from fellowship with Him for now. It is the Savior's sacrifice on the cross that provides the ground of a just pardon in exchange for simple faith and the acknowledgment of our transgressions. "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ [Eh. 2:13]." The pardon can be afforded because Jesus paid the price for our redemption: "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all [Isa. 53:5-6]." Let us ever remember that while forgiveness of sins comes to us freely "if we confess our sins," it does not come cheap. "Jesus paid it all!"
Blessed indeed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
For our good,
"Pastor" Frasier
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