SET FREE
Opening Prayer
Is there something bothering your conscience? Confess it to the Lord and ask for his forgiveness.
Read Psalm 32
Psalm 32
Of David. A maskil.[a]
1 Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.[b]
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Footnotes:
a Psalm 32:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
b Psalm 32:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 5 and 7.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
When was the last time you “made up” with a friend or family member? How did it feel?Have you ever felt what the psalmist describes in verses 3 and 4? When we try to hide our sin from God, or decide to enjoy it a little longer before repenting, there are consequences. We feel that we can’t enter God’s presence, and the strain of it can affect us physically and emotionally.
There is great freedom in repentance. We can be sure that if we confess our sins to God, he will forgive us (1 John 1:9). Instead of the heaviness and groaning of verses 3 and 4, we can know the joy and blessing of verses 1 and 2. The greatest joy is not in never having sinned, but in knowing what it is to receive God’s forgiveness. That doesn’t mean we should go out and sin in order to enjoy forgiveness! We’ve already done that bit—all of us (Rom. 3:23)! What we need to do is acknowledge before God the seriousness of our sin (5).
Almost immediately the psalmist is describing God as his hiding place and deliverer (7). It is as if being forgiven has felt like a warm restorative hug. Perhaps we are afraid to acknowledge our sin before the Almighty God. The psalmist’s experience should encourage us that he will be gentle with us. The Lord wants to lead us through close relationship (8,9) and gentle leading rather than having to be coerced.
Apply
Have you received God’s complete forgiveness today? Is there something you have a hard time believing that God will forgive? Is there something you can’t forgive yourself for? Give it to God today.
Closing prayer
Thank You, Jesus, for the Cross. Thank You that I am forgiven because of Your sacrifice.
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