It has been very well said throughout the years that sin will take you further than you ever wanted to go. Sin will keep you longer than you ever intended to stay. Sin will cost you more than you ever wanted to pay. Sin will require of you more than you ever wanted to give. In our modern culture, the word sin is rarely, if ever, used. However, God’s Word speaks plainly to the idea of sin. Sin is the wedge of division between the Holy One and His creation. Some form of the word sin occurs some 470 times within the confines of the Scriptures. As you and I read and study the Psalms, we notice certain psalms written from the point of view of a penitent writer. When you and I read Psalm 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143, we are face to face with a man who exposes his sin before God and mankind to teach us lessons about the goodness and kindness of an Almighty God who will forgive His children.
“ 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). David writes this psalm and is very direct as he begins this writing. There is a blessing for mankind, IF… You and I must be willing to be corrected in order to be blessed. It has never been the plan of God for His Word to change to fit man but rather man changes to fit God’s Word.
As David pens these words by the inspiration of God, we are taught about God’s view of sin. Words like transgression, sin, and iniquity have certain pointed definitions. Transgression means to go beyond the rules. We understand transgressions when we think of a foul ball in baseball. It is outside of the boundaries of the game. Sin means to miss the mark. This is a term in archery to reveal someone has not hit the target. Iniquity means lawlessness. Realistically this mindset is to live in such a way as to thumb my nose at the laws of God. When you and I live in iniquity, we declare that the Creator, our God, has no control over us.
In this Holy Writ, there is good news. Because the heart of the Psalmist was turned toward the Holy God, he was forgiven. Now David can rejoice. Now David sees himself as God sees us- a child needing to be forgiven and a child dependent on the Father. In Psalm 32:7, we are exposed to how David sees God as his “hiding place”; a place of safety. In Psalm 32:11, we notice God is David’s source of joy.
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. (Psalm 32:10). I think this verse is the key of this text. To have joy in the Lord and an anchor in salvation, I must trust in the Lord. The same sun that hardens clay also melts wax. May we all have hearts of wax.
~Billy Hayes
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