Dear PBC Family,
“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.” (Psalm 32:1–2)
Those who know the grace of God’s forgiveness can understand the pure joy evident in today’s passage, which was written by David after he experienced pardon for his sin. As he pours out his soul in rejoicing over the Lord’s grace, the king of Israel provides us with key instruction regarding the relationship of confession and repentance to forgiveness.
David begins with an expression of the blessedness of forgiven people, indicating that with the Lord, forgiveness entails both a covering of sin and not counting it to our records (vv. 1–2). The term covered comes from a Hebrew word that refers to the covering of shame by love in the act of forgiveness. So, when the Lord pardons His people, He stops counting their sin against them, and He hides their shame so that they may rejoice in His presence.
To be absolved of one’s guilt is to enter the realm of the Lord’s favor, and thus we must never forget the benefits of being in right relation to the Creator. Ultimately, forgiveness rescues us from the flood of God’s wrath. We can stand in right relationship to God only if the perfect obedience of Christ is put on our record. If this has happened, the Lord no longer counts sin against us.
Blessings,
Jarred