Read
(A special psalm by David.)
The Joy of Forgiveness
1 Our Lord, you bless everyone
whose sins you forgive
and wipe away.
2You bless them by saying,
“You told me your sins,
without trying to hide them,
and now I forgive you.”
3Before I confessed my sins,
my bones felt limp,
and I groaned all day long.
4Night and day your hand
weighed heavily on me,
and my strength was gone
as in the summer heat.
5So I confessed my sins
and told them all to you.
I said, “I'll tell the Lord
each one of my sins.”
Then you forgave me
and took away my guilt.
6We worship you, Lord,
and we should always pray
whenever we find out
that we have sinned.
Then we won't be swept away
by a raging flood.
7You are my hiding place!
You protect me from trouble,
and you put songs in my heart
because you have saved me.
8You said to me,
“I will point out the road
that you should follow.
I will be your teacher
and watch over you.
9Don't be stupid
like horses and mules
that must be led with ropes
to make them obey.”
10All kinds of troubles
will strike the wicked,
but your kindness shields those
who trust you, Lord.
11And so your good people
should celebrate and shout.
Reflect
If you have ever had a deep conflict with another person, you know the deep emotional pain that comes with it. There are seasons of anger that are often accompanied by deep grief over a broken relationship. On the other side of this conflict is the joy that comes when we are reconciled with another person – when everything is in the open and love and grace freely flow.
Psalm 32 gives us a glorious picture of our relationship with God. In verses 3 and 4, David describes the heaviness in his life as he kept silent and tried to hide in his sin. He was drained. Yet, as he opens his heart back to God – as he confesses his sin, something spectacular occurs – he is forgiven and he experiences overwhelming joy at the gift he receives as a result of God’s forgiveness (vv 1 and 2).
David’s encouragement to all of us when we sin – immediately pray to the Lord! Don’t hide or hold anything back from him. Live openly with God, and God will give abundantly and joyfully to you.
Our relationship with God is not limited to just experiencing this deliverance. David confronts us with a challenge – don’t be stubborn, receive the counsel and guidance of God and trust the Lord for your future.
When there is pain in a relationship, forgiveness and reconciliation is only the beginning. What is really needed is understanding how to avoid that type of pain in the future. God longs to forgive you from your sin and to joyfully deliver you from the pain you feel when God seems so far away. He loves it when you are in close relationship with him. Listen to his counsel so you continue to experience the joy of his presence instead of the pain of conflict between you and him.
Respond
Dear Father God, Forgive me for the ways I have sinned against you today (name some specific sins), and help me to experience the joy of a person freely and fully forgiven by your grace. Show me your counsel, and guide my steps so I will honour you and show my desire to stay close to you. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
Kirk Giles
Kirk Giles is Co-Lead Pastor of Forward Church – a multisite church in the Waterloo Region area of Ontario. He previously served as President of Promise Keepers Canada | Impactus – a global ministry equipping men for a life of purpose and godly impact. Kirk is married to Shannon and together, they have four adult children and two daughters-in-law.