Psalm 32 Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. 6 Surround me with songs of victory. 8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. 9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.” 10 Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. 11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!
So you've sinned. You've done something awful, terrible....maybe something you deem unforgiveable. I've been there. I pretty sure many of us have. David had. He took another man's wife. He impregnated her. He then had the man killed. He tried to hide his sin, from others, from himself, and from God. None of that worked. As the months went by he grew weaker and more burdened. When we carry our sin, hide it in our heart and put it "out of sight" as it were, we do not go unscathed. We do not walk freely or joyfully away from doing wrong and hiding it. Eventually the prophet Nathan confronted David. David then admitted his sin, he confessed before the Lord his guilt.
Rather than rejecting David, the Lord forgave him. When we think of our most grievous sins, it's hard to imagine forgiveness. But our Father offers it when we come to Him. And there is even more than that! Today, as I read this Psalm I saw so much more blessing from confessing. There's joy (v 1). Our guilt is gone (v5). The floodwaters of judgment will not overwhelm us (v 6). The Lord is our hiding place, we don't hide our sin, He hides us and protects us from trouble. (v 7). We are given songs of victory. Christ is our victory, He has won it for us. (v 7). The Lord will come along to guide us and steer us in the right direction (v 8-9). We will be surrounded by unfailing love (v 10).
Confession brings more than just forgiveness (although that in and of itself is enough). It brings God's Presence, His joy, His protection, His guidance, His victory and His unfailing love. Are these not all good reasons to confess, to stop trying to cover up our sin, hiding it even from God and ourselves? This does not mean you need to shout it from the rooftops. Some things we are to confess to others, some things are just between us and God...but bringing our mistakes and sins to Him, we receive so much in return. He lifts the burdens of our heart, lifts His heavy hand that is upon us and leads us with His righteous love. Don't be afraid to come to Him with your worst. This Psalm gives us the comfort and assurance that we need to face our Lord with our barest heart.
Lord, thank You. Not only are You faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), You give us beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3) when we bring our sin to You. There is none like You. I am so grateful to be Your child.
Do not be afraid to confess.
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