The Today With No Tomorrow

How long does God want his children to stew in their sin before running to him in confession? Not another moment! But it takes faith to believe God wants us to come to him right now instead of groveling first. Is he really that good?

David wrote Psalm 32 to urge us to run to be reconciled with God, reminding us that he is very much the friend of sinners. The path David outlines here is the only one that leads to happiness. The word "blessed" which opens verses 1 and 2 does not imply a Rolls Royce in the garage but joy in the spirit. Happiness.

When David sketches the portrait of human sin in the opening two verses, his and ours, it's hard to fathom anyone crawling out of that cave whole, let alone happy. He speaks of our "transgression," "sin," and "iniquity," key terms to depict our depravity, our brokenness. "Transgression" speaks of our knowledge of God's clear boundaries which we willfully violate. We jump his fence. "Sin" illustrates our failure to hit the mark of God's standards. Our best attempts fall woefully short. "Iniquity" lays our soul bare to reveal that every fiber of ours is crooked with corruption. We're sinners by nature and every part of us is affected.

That's our contribution to the Psalm: transgression, sin, and iniquity. How does a man like this then, loitering in darkness, come to enjoy God's blessing? For that, we must see what God brings to the table in response. God forgives transgression, covers sin, and does not impute (this is an accounting term) iniquity. Instead, his "steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD" (verse 10). Salvation has always been by faith (see how Paul quotes this Psalm in Romans 4:6-8).

David didn't always bathe in this blessedness though but stewed in silence. "For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long" (verse 3). David was wracked with physical pain because his soul continued to harbor sin. "For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer" (verse 4). God's gracious discipline is meant to convict us of our sin not to keep us in it.

But conviction of sin is not enough. We must confess it. Confession means to agree with God about what we've done. We call it like it is without watering down our failures.   

As soon as David confesses, forgiveness flows, immediate, unrestricted forgiveness. "I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover [try to hide] my iniquity; I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,' and you forgave the iniquity of my sin" (verse 5, note how the sin words are repeated from the first verses).

If God immediately covers our sin when we confess it, why would we keep silent another second? Even more urgent, we might not get another day to confess if we dawdle, which David implies in verse six. Don't delay! There is a today that does not have a tomorrow. 

Psalm 32

 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered.

Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,

and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away

through my groaning all day long.

For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;

my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

I acknowledged my sin to you,

and I did not cover my iniquity;

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”

and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Therefore, let everyone who is godly

offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;

surely in the rush of great waters,

they shall not reach him.

You are a hiding place for me;

you preserve me from trouble;

you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,

which must be curbed with bit and bridle,

or it will not stay near you.

Many are the sorrows of the wicked,

but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,

and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!